Mar 09, 2026 City Council

[00:00:05]

GET GOING. BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE PRESENTATION WITH DANIELLE, WE DO HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION.

[5.A) Problem Gambling Awareness Month ]

WHEREAS PROBLEM GAMBLING HAS A HIGH SOCIETAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS PROBLEM GAMBLING IS TREATABLE AND THE TREATMENT IS EFFECTIVE IN MINIMIZING THIS HARM TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. AND WHEREAS NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS, PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR EFFORTS TO THE EDUCATION OF PUBLIC ABOUT PROBLEM GAMBLING AND THE AVAILABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT.

AND WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING AND HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICES INVITE ALL RESIDENTS OF COUNCIL BLUFFS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH. THEREFORE, I, JILL SHUDAK, MAYOR OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2026 AS PROBABLY GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, AND ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROBLEM GAMBLING IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REDUCE GAMBLING RELATED HARM NATIONWIDE.

AND WE DO HAVE RON HERE FROM HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICES.

YEAH, I'M GOING TO COME ON DOWN. YOU CAN HIT THE BUTTON HERE.

I WOULD. SAY ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, REALLY.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY MUCH, BUT. HEY, NICE TALKING TO YOU AGAIN.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED. FANTASTIC. CAN I GIVE THIS TO THESE ONES? SO THAT'S YOU OKAY? YEAH. AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE PROCLAMATION IN THE COUNCIL? WELL, SHE IS THE FACE OF THE PLACE. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND HAVE A PICTURE TAKEN? SURE. THERE YOU GO. I WORK, I WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, SO I DON'T NEED.

THERE YOU. YOU SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE? THERE YOU GO.

TAKES A PICTURE FOR YOU. OKAY. COME ON IN HERE.

OH, YEAH. SHE'S COMING BACK. I THOUGHT WE WERE HOLDING HANDS.

I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M ALWAYS DOING THINGS. I JUST PUT THEM DOWN HERE.

HEY, WHY IS AMANDA ISN'T IN THERE? THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

ROGER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT, THEN WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM DANIELLE ON THE GO BOND PROCESS OVERVIEW.

DO I NEED THE CLICKER? IT'S IN THE. OH, PERFECT.

PERFECT. OKAY, SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S GENERAL OBLIGATION OR GO BOND PROCESS. AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, JUST KIND OF WHAT OUR PROCESS IS, WHY WE DO IT, HOW WE DO IT, AND THE END GOAL. SO WHAT I JUST PASSED OUT TO YOU GUYS IS THE ROADMAP OF OUR SPECIFIC CITY PROCESS, WHICH WILL FOLLOW ALONG RELATIVELY CLOSELY TO THE SLIDES.

THE AGENDA IS TO REVIEW THE TIMELINE WHICH IS SET FORTH IN FRONT OF YOU, THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY UNDER THE IOWA CODE.

THE ISSUANCE STEPS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND IS PRESENTED TO YOU AS CITY COUNCIL AND THEN FINALLY ARBITRAGE.

SO THIS IS THE PLANNING TIMELINE. THAT GOES FROM THE START, WHICH IS CIP, WHEN THE FIVE-YEAR CIP COMES IN FRONT OF PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN ULTIMATELY COMES TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

THAT IS WHAT REALLY SETS OFF THE ENTIRE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROCESS.

WE UTILIZE THAT AS OUR PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

TO ISSUE DEBT, WE ISSUE DEBT ONE YEAR AT A TIME FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR'S PROJECT AS OUTLINED IN CIP.

AND THOSE PROJECTS ALIGN WITH OR SHOULD ALIGN WITH THE CURRENT 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO WHAT IS A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND? BONDS ARE MUNICIPAL DEBT THAT IS USED TO FUND QUALIFYING PROJECTS OUTLINED IN THE ANNUAL CIP.

IT IS AUTHORIZED UNDER IOWA CODE 384.24. IT'S BACKED BY THE CITY'S FULL FAITH AND CREDIT.

IT'S PAID FROM THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

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AND IT COUNTS TOWARD THE 5% DEBT LIMIT. AND I JUST CITED THE DIFFERENT IOWA CODE SECTIONS.

SO THIS IS A NINE STEP PROCESS. AGAIN, THIS IS SPECIFIC TO CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS ON HOW WE DO OUR ISSUANCE OF GO BONDS.

AT EACH STEP OR AT MOST OF THESE STEPS, WE COME TO YOU AS CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THESE DIFFERENT THINGS WITHIN THE PROCESS OR WITHIN THE WHOLE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS. SO AGAIN, STEP ONE, IT STARTS WITH APPROVING THE CIP.

IT IS A FIVE-YEAR CIP THAT IS PRESENTED TO YOU WITH AN EMPHASIS ON JUST THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. FUNDING CAN BE CHANGED OR CUT FROM US.

PROJECTS SHIFT YEAR OVER YEAR. SO REALLY ANYTHING IT'S A FLUID DOCUMENT, BUT THAT IS WHAT WE UTILIZE AS OUR PLAN AND OUR GOAL TO ISSUE GO BONDS. IT IS APPROVED AT, VIA A PUBLIC HEARING.

STEP TWO IS SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BOND PURPOSES.

SO STEP TWO AND STEP THREE. I GUESS I SHOULD GO ALONG HERE.

STEP ONE IS, BACK TO STEP ONE. SO THE FINAL CIP, AFTER WE TALK INTERNALLY WITH STAFF MAYOR APPROVES IT TO MOVE FORWARD TO THEN BE PRESENTED TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

IF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS IT MOVING FORWARD, WE BRING IT IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY YOU GUYS APPROVE THE CIP.

STEP TWO AND THREE ARE THE BOND PURPOSES, WHICH WE JUST DID THE LAST FEW MEETINGS.

SO ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSE AND GENERAL CORPORATE PURPOSE.

ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSE. THINK OF ANYTHING THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED OR PRETTY STATIC.

SO STREETS, BRIDGES, THE LEVY WORK INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

AND THEN GENERAL CORPORATE PURPOSE IS LIKE ALL OF OUR CITY FACILITIES, SWIMMING POOLS, TECHNOLOGY, THE ACTUAL FACILITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSE DOES NOT REQUIRE A PUBLIC VOTE.

GENERAL CORPORATE DOES, IF IT EXCEEDS THE ALLOTTED THRESHOLD.

STATE DICTATES WHAT THAT THRESHOLD IS. RIGHT NOW IT'S UPWARDS OF 939,000 FOR EACH GENERAL CORPORATE PURPOSE PROJECT. SO THE BOND PURPOSE HEARINGS ARE NOT DETERMINED UNTIL CIP IS APPROVED. SO AGAIN, CIP IS OUR PLAN.

FINANCE WORKS WITH BOND COUNCIL TO PREPARE THOSE HEARINGS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ACCURATELY ALIGNING THE LANGUAGE PUT UP BY THE STATE CODE WITH THE CIP PROJECTS THAT WE ARE INTENDING TO MOVE FORWARD DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN CITY COUNCIL APPROVES EACH BOND PURPOSE.

AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST DID THIS AT THE LAST MEETING.

TYPICALLY WE HAVE ONE ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSE BECAUSE THERE'S NO MAXIMUM THRESHOLD FOR THAT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE GENERAL CORPORATE PURPOSE HEARINGS BASED ON THE THRESHOLD. STEP FOUR AND FIVE, WHICH IS HAPPENING, IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION IS REGULATED BY TREASURY 1.150-2.

IT ESSENTIALLY JUST ALLOWS US TO START INCURRING THOSE COSTS PRIOR TO US ACTUALLY GOING OUT FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS, AND THEN WE REIMBURSE OURSELVES BACK. SO IT'S NOT DELAYING THE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD UNTIL WE ACTUALLY ISSUE THE BONDS.

AND THEN THE PRE LEVY RESOLUTION THIS IS TO ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY LEVY THE TAX OF THE TAXPAYERS AND THE DEBT SERVICE LEVY PRIOR TO OUR BUDGET BEING APPROVED. STEP SIX IS THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND MOODY'S PRESENTATION.

SO WE CITY FINANCE WORKS WITH BOND COUNCIL BOND ADVISORS TO PREPARE THIS PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT, WHICH IS BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL DURING STEP SEVEN.

IT ESSENTIALLY JUST PAINTS THE PICTURE OF THE CITY'S FINANCIALS AND OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

BASICALLY EXPLAINING IN WORDS AND STATS AND DATA HOW WELL THE CITY IS DOING.

ULTIMATELY, THAT THEN IS PRESENTED TO THE MOODY'S INVESTORS AND THEY GIVE US OUR MOOD, OUR INVESTOR RATING, WHICH IS LIKE OUR CREDIT SCORE. SO RIGHT NOW THE CITY SITS AT A AA2, WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT WOULD INCREASE THAT RATING ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

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OUR PENSIONS ALSO RESTRICT US A LITTLE BIT FROM INCREASING OUR BOND RATING.

JOHN BURMEISTER, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN HE COMES AND PRESENTS THE MOODY'S RATING TO YOU GUYS PRIOR TO US RECOMMENDING THE LOW BID FOR THE BONDS. SO HE ALSO GIVES KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL WHAT THIS IS WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE CITY.

AND EXPLAINS THE OVERALL STRENGTHS OF THE CITY AND WHAT WEAKNESSES THAT WE HAVE, WHICH I JUST SAID TO YOU, ON HOW WE COULD IMPROVE THAT SCORE. STEP SEVEN AND EIGHT IS THE SALE OF THE BOND.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE SET THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS TO BE SOLICITED AND AWARDED AS REQUIRED BY PROCUREMENT STANDARDS. COUNCIL APPROVES THIS. THIS STEP ACTUALLY ALLOWS US TO PROCEED WITH ISSUING THE DEBT, SO US GETTING THOSE BOND PROCEEDS. AND THEN STEP NINE THE FINAL STEP IS FINAL PAPERWORK ESSENTIALLY SAYING, YES, THIS IS THE POINT OR THE PAYING AGENT, THIS IS THE BOND REGISTRAR, ETCETERA.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY OBTAINING THE BOND PROCEEDS.

SALE IS FINAL AND WE START PAYING PREMIUM OR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON IT.

AND THEN LASTLY, JUST HIGH LEVEL FEDERAL ARBITRAGE AND REBATE.

SO BASICALLY US BEING A CITY, WE ARE TAX EXEMPT FOR MOST OF OUR MUNICIPAL GO BONDS.

WITH THAT SAID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US A LOWER RATE FOR THOSE TAX-EXEMPT BONDS WITH THE GOOD FAITH THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO INVEST AT HIGHER RATES TO EARN INCOME AND HAVE INVESTMENT GAINS.

SO IF WE DO THAT, WHICH SOMETIMES IT'S OUT OF OUR CONTROL, THAT EXTRA PORTION WE CANNOT RETAIN, WE MUST PAY THAT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO, ARBITRAGE IS TWOFOLD, SO YOU HAVE INVESTMENT EARNINGS WHICH YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO EARN INTEREST GREATER THAN THE YIELD ON THE BOND.

SO BASICALLY WHAT INTEREST RATE YOU'RE PAYING ON THE BOND, YOU SHOULD NOT EARN MORE INTEREST THAN THAT.

AND IF YOU DO YOU PAY IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A A SPEND DOWN TIME FRAME, SO IN GOOD FAITH, YOU ARE TO SPEND DOWN THESE BOND PROCEEDS WITHIN TWO YEARS.

AND IF YOU DON'T, THERE'S CONSEQUENCES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT, WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE IN REBATE THAN YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE TO SPEND THEM. SO THE QUICKER THAT YOU CAN SPEND THESE BONDS, THE BETTER IT IS FOR YOU TO RETAIN ALL OF YOUR INVESTMENT EARNINGS.

AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FINDING A PROJECT TO USE THESE GEO BONDS ON THAT, THAT QUALIFIES WITHIN THE DIFFERENT PURPOSES THAT YOU'RE RESTRICTED TO. AND THAT'S IT. SO ARE WE ALLOWED TO USE FUNDS FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT AS IT COMES UP, AS LONG AS IT FITS WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR BUCKET? IS THAT CORRECT? YES, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IT ALIGNS 100% WITH WHAT THE LANGUAGE SAYS THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED AS A PURPOSE HEARING FOR THAT MONEY THAT WAS DEDICATED TO.

SAY, ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSE FOR THE LEVEES.

I'LL SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNT, THE LANGUAGE THAT IS WITHIN THAT PURPOSE HAS TO ALIGN WITH THE PROJECT, OR THE PROJECT HAS TO ALIGN WITH THAT VERBIAGE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO USE IT ON THAT PROJECT.

OKAY. SO IF IT DOESN'T EXPLICITLY SAY LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEN YOU CAN'T USE IT ON THAT.

WHAT IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY THAT COMES UP THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PUT OUT SOME FUNDS FOR? DO WE HAVE TO GET THOSE OUTSIDE OF THIS PROCESS, CORRECT? POTENTIALLY, YES. IF WE, IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF GO BONDS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE BECAUSE THE PROJECT FELL THROUGH, A BID DIDN'T COME IN, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCE IS, IF WE HAVE TIME, WE COULD BRING IT BACK IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO CHANGE THE PURPOSE LANGUAGE AND DEDICATE IT TO THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT. BUT THAT TAKES TIME AND MONEY.

RIGHT. OKAY. I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS, BUT THAT'S YOU DID.

THANK YOU. YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DANIELLE?

[00:15:05]

NEXT UP WE HAVE NIKKI WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY.

HI, EVERYBODY. SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK, LIKE, STATE OF THE SHELTER.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON KIND OF SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE SHELTER, HOW OUR PARTNERSHIP IS LOOKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO LET ME GET THE PRESENTATION UP.

SO I'M GOING TO TALK FAST BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO COVER, BUT.

THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. SO MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND NURTURE COMPANION ANIMALS AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM.

JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HIT ON IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY SHELTER DATA OVERVIEW FOR 2025, CAPACITY CHALLENGES COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO HELP WITH CAPACITY ISSUES, COMMUNITY IMPACT, AND JUST CONTINUING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CITY ON SOME OF THESE THINGS. SO WE'RE CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

WE ACTUALLY STARTED IN 2010 WITH OUR SHELTER AND LEASE AGREEMENT TO BREAK GROUND ON MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY IS WHAT YOU SEE TODAY. SO THAT WAS JUST A, THE OLD SHELTER WAS KIND OF FALLING APART.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ANIMALS ARE BEING CARED FOR PROPERLY. AND THIS IS KIND OF HOW IT ENTERED INTO THE PROJECT.

AND IT WAS JUST TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY AND CARE OF THE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE A HIGH PRIORITY.

IN 2015, THE NEW FACILITY OPENED, SO MIDLANDS BROKE GROUND AND OPENED IN JANUARY 2015, AND IT JUST EXPANDED OUR ABILITY TO SERVE COUNCIL BLUFFS IN SOME OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

PRESENT WE, THE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION IN NOVEMBER OF 2015.

LATER IN THE YEAR AFTER OPENING, I CAME ON BOARD AND WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER LEADERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THEN.

SO IT'S BEEN GROWING EVER SINCE. OUR STAFF, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON WAS HAD ABOUT 3 OR 4 PEOPLE AND NOW WE HAVE 20.

AND WE JUST CONTINUE TO GROW. WE ADDED A FULL TIME VETERINARIAN IN 2022, WHICH WAS A HUGE, HUGE SUCCESS. SO WE HAVE A FULL MEDICAL TEAM THERE NOW.

WE JUST CONTINUE TO EXPAND PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS.

WE WORK WITH IOWA WESTERN, IOWA STATE, CLARINDA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

THERE'S JUST A LIST OF THEM. AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

SINCE WE'VE ONBOARDED OUR VETERINARIAN, WE STARTED SOME COMMUNITY LOW COST VACCINATION CLINICS.

WE'RE DOING SOME HUMANE EDUCATION WITH A PROGRAM CALLED SIT, STAY READ.

SO WE JUST CONTINUE TO JUST KIND OF RAISE THE BAR AND BEING MORE INVOLVED IN WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS NEEDING.

AND WE ARE STILL TODAY THE CITY'S PRIMARY SHELTERING PARTNER.

SO IT'S ALLOWED US TO HELP THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS AND FAMILIES SINCE 2015.

AND IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIP SO FAR.

QUICK OVERVIEW. WE TOOK IN A TOTAL OF JUST OVER 2500 ANIMALS OF THAT, THE DOGS WERE JUST OVER A THOUSAND AND THEN CAT INTAKES WERE CLOSE TO 1500. OTHER ANIMALS ARE LIKE REPTILES, BIRDS, SMALL ANIMALS, ABOUT 42.

WE CONTINUE JUST TO HAVE INCREASED PRESSURE ON OUR SHELTER CAPACITY.

WE ARE WE'VE KIND OF OUTGROWN OUR FOOTPRINT THERE.

IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN THERE, THERE'S STUFF EVERYWHERE BECAUSE WE JUST DO NOT HAVE THE SPACE.

SO BUT WE DO HAVE A BENCHMARK OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING LIFE SAVINGS OF 90% OR MORE.

THAT IS A NATIONAL BENCHMARK OF THAT EVERY ANIMAL THAT YOU CAN SAY YOU DO.

SO EACH ANIMAL HAS A PATHWAY PLAN. WE TAKE EVERY ANIMAL AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AT LEAST HAVING A 90% LIVE RELEASE RATE INTO, BACK INTO JUST POPULATION. SO WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING AT 88% AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THE GAP ON OURS IS OUR COMMUNITY CATS. WE GET A TON OF COMMUNITY CATS IN, WHICH IS.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK DOG FIRST, BUT DOG INTAKES, WE HAVE STRAYS AROUND 667 CAME IN IN 2025.

OWNER RELINQUISH 310 TRANSFERS AND OTHER INTAKES ABANDONS THINGS LIKE THAT.

RIGHT AROUND 40. AND THAT EQUALS THAT TOTAL FOR DOG INTAKE.

OUR OUTCOMES ADOPTIONS WE HAD ABOUT 569 RETURNED TO OWNERS 311.

TRANSFERS OUT, THAT'S WITH OTHER PARTNERS SHOULD WE GET REALLY FULL, ABOUT 45.

OTHER LIVE OUTCOMES, THAT IS WITH WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC AND GETTING THEM BACK WITH THEIR OWNERS, EVEN IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT. SOMETIMES IT'S CREATING SPAY AND NEUTER OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP PEOPLE AND PETS TOGETHER.

AROUND 80 EUTHANASIAS, AND AGAIN, THAT IS JUST A REAL, I WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.

THAT'S A REAL THING THAT WE HAVE TO FACE ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IT ALSO HITS ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUT ANY DANGEROUS ANIMALS INTO THE PUBLIC. SO WHEN WE HAVE ANIMALS THAT ARE A RISK TO ANY PUBLIC OR THEIR MEDICALLY UNSOUND EUTHANASIA IS, IS A DECISION WE HAVE TO MAKE. AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE ANIMALS THAT COME IN THAT ARE REALLY SICK.

[00:20:04]

THIS IS A REALLY CRAZY NUMBER STRAYS. WE HAD OVER 1000 STRAYS OF CATS LAST YEAR.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY CATS AND SOME OF OUR GAP THAT IS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY CATS.

ONLY 377 WERE OWNER RELINQUISHED AND THEN TRANSFERS.

AGAIN, WE WORK WITH OTHER SHELTERS JUST TRYING TO GET SOME CAPACITY AT TIMES.

WE HAD ABOUT 50 OF THOSE AND SO IT EQUALS ABOUT 1500 CATS.

SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CAT INTAKES WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE WITH COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAMS, WHICH I'LL TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT MORE TOO. BUT WE HAD OVER 1000 ADOPTIONS.

WE RETURNED 77 TO OWNERS, WHICH HONESTLY FOR CATS IS PRETTY HIGH.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN OUR NATIONAL AVERAGE. TRANSFERS OUT AND OTHER LIVE INCOME, SAME THING, WE JUST WORK TO TRY TO GET CATS BACK TO THEIR HOMES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO SOMETIMES WE'RE SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND GETTING THEM BACK TO THEIR HOMES, EVEN IF THE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD IT. SO, AND THEN THE EUTHANASIA, OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE ON CATS AND MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY ON SOCIAL CATS THAT CAN'T GO UP TO THE ADOPTION BECAUSE THEY WANT, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HANDLED. SO THEY'RE COMING FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE COMING IN AS TRAP CATS THROUGH ANIMAL CONTROL.

AND WHEN WE CAN'T FIND BARN HOMES, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A WORKING CAT BARN HOME PROGRAM.

EUTHANASIA IS THE MOST HUMANE THING TO DO BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO WELL IN THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT.

SO AND THEN OUR ONES THAT PASS AWAY A LOT OF TIMES ARE OUR NEONATE KITTENS THAT COME IN AS COMMUNITY CATS, THAT THEY JUST DON'T THRIVE WHEN THEY'RE 2 OR 3 DAYS OLD AND YOU'RE HAVING TO BOTTLE FEED.

SURGERIES. THIS IS JUST A GLIMPSE OF KIND OF HOW MANY SURGERIES OUR MEDICAL TEAMS ARE FACING.

WE DID JUST OVER 1600 SURGERIES. AND WE DO SPAY AND NEUTER THE RABBITS.

SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT CHART. BUT IN HOUSE WE DID 1618 WERE ALL STRICTLY AT OUR FACILITY WITH OUR MEDICAL TEAM.

THE ADDITIONAL USUALLY ARE AT IOWA WESTERN OR IF THERE'S ORTHOPEDIC LIKE SPECIALTY SURGERIES.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO THAT DEPENDING ON IF THERE'S AN INJURY, SOMETIMES HIT BY CARS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO SPECIALTY SURGERY OUTSIDE OF OUR GENERAL SURGERY SUITE.

SO WHY IT MATTERS? BECAUSE IT IS PREVENTING THOUSANDS OF FUTURE STRAY ANIMALS EVERY TIME WE SPAY AND NEUTER.

IT KEEPS ADOPTABLE PETS MORE HEALTHY AND REDUCES LONG TERM MUNICIPAL COSTS BECAUSE WE'RE JUST NOT HAVING TO PICK THEM UP AS STRAYS BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAPPENED.

CAPACITY CHALLENGES, AGAIN, OVER 2500 ANIMALS SERVED IN 2025 JUST WITH OUR BUILDING SIZE.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG, PRETTY BIG NUMBER. THE HIGH STRAIGHT INTAKE ON CATS IS JUST VERY NOTABLE THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT PROBLEM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO TRY TO GET THE CAT POPULATION DOWN. WE HAVE LIMITED PHYSICAL SPACE.

WE HAVE AN INCREASED DEMAND ON MEDICAL AND BEHAVIOR CARE.

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING ON THE INCREASE REGULARLY. THAT'S A NATIONAL TREND AND THEN A LONGER LENGTH OF STAY FOR OUR PIT BULLS, JUST BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE PIT BULL BAN. AND IT JUST THEY JUST HAVE TO STAY LONGER.

SO AND, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE COULD DO TO TRY TO WORK ON THAT.

SO SOME OF THOSE SOLUTIONS, LIKE I KIND OF HIT ON THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND SEEING IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST WAY IS TO MOVE FORWARD ADOPTING A COMMUNITY CAT ORDINANCE. THERE'S TONS AND TONS OF RESEARCH OUT THERE FROM NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT THESE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAMS REALLY DO WORK.

YOU BRING THEM IN, YOU SPAY AND NEUTER THEM, AND YOU RETURN THEM TO WHERE THEY WERE. THEY ARE LIVING IN OUR POPULATION AS IT IS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE THERE. SO IT IS KNOWN THAT BRINGING THEM IN AND JUST EUTHANIZING THEM DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND IT'S NOT A SOLUTION.

BUT THESE TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN PROGRAMS REALLY ARE WORKING.

IT JUST TAKES A LOT LONGER. LIKE IT'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE FIX.

REPEALING THE BREED BAN. AGAIN, THOSE ARE JUST DISCUSSIONS TO TALK ABOUT. IT REALLY FOCUSES ON BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP.

IT'S JUST WE, WE WANT A DANGEROUS DOG ORDINANCE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THE BREED IS. IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC WITH ALL ANIMALS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER BREED. SO IT'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN ON THE AGENDA A LOT. I'M GETTING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT FROM THE MEDIA, SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING IT UP. AND THEN JUST EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A FOOD PANTRY. WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER INITIATIVES MOVING FORWARD HERE LATER IN THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH CATS. BECAUSE IT'S JUST WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR LOWER COST SPAY AND NEUTER.

AND THAT'S JUST A NEED TO HELP KEEP PET POPULATION DOWN IN GENERAL.

SO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT, WE DID OVER 1600 ADOPTIONS.

WE REUNITED HUNDREDS OF LOST PETS WITH OWNERS.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS.

WE WORKED WITH NEW VISIONS THIS YEAR IN 2025 AND DID HOSTED A VACCINE CLINIC, WHICH WAS SUPER SUCCESSFUL AND REALLY FUN.

WE HOPE TO DO SOME MORE OF THOSE THINGS AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

[00:25:01]

WE JUST KNOW THAT FOOD SECURITY FOR PETS ALSO EQUALS PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD SECURITY.

SO HOW CAN WE COLLABORATE AND MAKE THAT BETTER? THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT. OOPS, I WENT THE WRONG WAY.

SORRY. SO LAST BUT NOT LEAST, JUST LOOKING FORWARD, WE JUST REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT RENEWING OUR SHELTER CONTRACT.

IT HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 2010. THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT IS STILL IN PLACE.

WE NEED TO EVALUATE THE FACILITY CAPACITY AND EXPANSION NEEDS, LAND TRANSFER POTENTIAL, SOME THINGS TO TALK ABOUT DOWN THE LINE.

AND JUST REALLY LOOK AT THE ISSUES OF HOW CAN WE BE BETTER COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE AND PETS WITHIN OUR ORDINANCES IN OUR CITY.

AND THAT'S JUST WHAT THOSE ARE LISTED. SO I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ON IT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING QUITE A BIT THIS YEAR, AND I WANTED TO JUST GET A QUICK LIKE TRANSPARENT, HERE'S SOME REAL NUMBERS, HERE'S SOME THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR NIKKI TODAY? AWESOME. AWESOME.

THANK YOU NIKKI. AND WE HAVE THIS PRESENTATION.

I'LL BE EMAILING IT TO EVERYBODY. I WILL GET YOU.

I ALSO HAVE THE. I HAVE A REALLY BIG PACKET ON COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAMS, SO YOU GUYS CAN ALL HAVE IT AS WELL.

FANTASTIC. THANK YOU NIKKI. OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START TO REVIEW THE AGENDA.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON F SEPARATELY.

WHEN I HIT YOUR BUTTON. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON F SEPARATELY.

I'M GOING TO NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM. YOU SAY F? F. F. OKAY. SO WE'LL DO CONSENT AGENDA A THROUGH E AND G AS ONE.

AND THEN WE'LL DO F SEPARATELY, AND F WILL DO AS A VOICE VOTE.

OUR ROLL CALL VOTE, I SHOULD SAY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ON E, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ARBOR CREEK.

WE DID NOT AGREE TO PUT THE TIF OR TO PUT LMI DOWN THERE.

I MEAN WE WORKED ON THIS FOR 16, I MEAN PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS, HONESTLY.

AND TO PUT 16 HOUSES DOWN THERE THAT I DON'T RECALL EVER VOTING ON LMI OR TIF.

THAT'S. SO THIS IS ALL NEW. WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S COMING BEFORE YOU NOW.

I MEAN, SO THERE WAS A NEGOTIATION PAST ADMINISTRATIONS TO DO URBAN RENEWAL DOWN THERE.

THERE'S AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA ALREADY ESTABLISHED DOWN THERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING TIF, WHICH YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE VOTED ON. THIS IS NOW THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL PIECE TO IT.

SO IT'S, I THINK $615,000 IS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

BECAUSE IT'S A GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT, THEY HAVE TO SET ASIDE 44.7% OF THEIR TIF REBATE TO PUT INTO A FUND THAT WE, THE CITY, WOULD THEN USE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.

BUT STATE LAW WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO DO THAT UNDER TIF AGREEMENTS, BEING GREENFIELD, THERE HAS TO BE A SET ASIDE.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S COMING FOR YOU FOR THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT ITSELF.

RIGHT, THERE WAS NEVER ANY DISCUSSION WHEN WE APPROVED THIS THE FIRST TIME FOR LMI DOWN THERE.

SO THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSIONS COME AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT.

JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. YEAH. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, IT WENT FROM 100 APARTMENTS TO A STRIP MALL, I THINK TO 30 HOMES DOWN TO 16.

AND IF THE INTENT AT ANY POINT IN TIME WAS LMI, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION TO HAVE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH THE STAFF, THE FORMER MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME.

SO I JUST THINK THIS IS. IT'S NOT LMI HOUSING, IT'S ALL MARKET RATE HOUSING, BUT BECAUSE IT'S GREENFIELDS, THE STATE IS BASICALLY.

I KNOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT BUILDING LMI IN THIS DEVELOPMENT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING MONEY. SO THEY'RE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE TIF PROCEEDS AND PUTTING 44% OFF THE SIDE THAT WE, THE CITY NOW WILL USE TO BUILD LMI HOUSING ELSEWHERE.

SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT'S THE SAME THING THAT WE DID ON PATRICK CIRCLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE THEY'RE NOT BUILDING LMI HOUSING.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BY LAW, THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP 44%.

THEY HAVE TO GIVE AWAY THAT MONEY. SO WE CAN NOW BUILD THAT ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THIS IS ALL MARKET RATE HOUSING BEING BUILT HERE. OKAY, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW I READ THAT I GUESS.

[00:30:03]

RYAN ROGERS HAS A SIMILAR PROJECT THAT'S COMING FORWARD THAT IT'S THE SAME THING.

THE 44% NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT ON HIS THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD.

SO THIS WILL BE. YEAH, PATRICK CIRCLE WAS QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT I MEAN, THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT WAS DONE FOR PATRICK CIRCLE.

OKAY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS IT TIED TO THIS DEVELOPER? IS THE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, DO THEY HAVE TO USE THE 44% OR THE CITY? CAN THE MONEY'S GOING TO COME TO US? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OURS OFF THE TOP.

AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR 53% BACK.

AND THEN WE, THE CITY, WILL FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANT TO USE THAT.

WE WANT TO PUT IT TOWARDS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

DO WE WANT TO HELP WITH LAND ACQUISITION SPECIFICALLY FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING? WE WILL KIND OF DRIVE, YOU KNOW, THAT DECISION MAKING. CAN YOU GIVE US A REPORT ON THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE THE 44%, LIKE WHAT WE'VE USED THOSE FOR? SURE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE WE'VE DONE IT QUITE A FEW TIMES, BUT LIKE WHAT WE'VE USED THE 44% FOR.

YEP, I CAN LOOK INTO IT. I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE AS MANY AS WE MIGHT THINK WE HAVE, BUT I CAN LOOK INTO IT. YEP. THANK YOU. AND I THINK AMANDA HAS I'LL HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM C, AS I'VE SEEN THAT THROUGH PLANNING ALREADY.

I NEED TO BREAK IT OUT AGAIN. OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO.

I THINK SHE HAS THAT ALREADY. BUT ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL GO A, B, D, E AND G AND THEN VOICE, ROLL CALL VOTE FOR C AND ROLL CALL VOTE FOR F.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT AMANDA. OKAY, GREAT. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION THEN THIS EVENING FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OR RED CROSS MONTH.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. 6.A. CODY'S COMING UP FOR THAT ONE.

THIS IS FOR THE CITY HALL EXTERIOR. IT'S BEEN LAST TIME ANYTHING MAJOR WAS DONE THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WAS 2010.

SO A LOT OF THE SEALANTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE IN NEED OF BEING REAPPLIED TO THE BUILDING AT THIS POINT.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME DEGRADATION ON SOME OF THE LINTELS AND WINDOW SILLS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED AS PART OF THIS AS WELL.

QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS CODY.

YEAH. B. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A COUPLE HERE. SO 6.B, SO THIS IS A REQUEST FROM MR. POGGE TO PURCHASE A CITY OWNED PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE 2012.

THE LOT SIZE ITSELF IS NON-CONFORMING. SO HE'S OFFERING TO PURCHASE FROM THE CITY WITH THE FORGIVABLE MORTGAGE THAT HE WILL BUILD A HOUSE ON THERE WITHIN TWO YEARS.

AND THEN NEXT WEEK, WE'RE SCHEDULED TO TAKE HIM TO OUR ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO GET A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WHICH WOULD ADOPT A SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. SO I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD OFFER.

IT'S A GREAT REUSE OF THAT PROPERTY. WE'RE CURRENTLY NOT USING IT RIGHT NOW. AND SO BE A PRODUCTIVE WAY TO GET IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.

GOOD INFILL HOUSING. IT'S PERFECT. YEAH. CHRIS, DO YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OTHER ONES WHILE YOU'RE UP? I WILL. 6.C, SO THIS IS THE FINAL PLAT APPROVAL FOR IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AGAIN LAST MONTH, YOU GUYS SAW THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIS IS JUST CONSOLIDATING ALL THEIR TRACKS INTO ONE LARGE PARCEL OF LAND.

WHICH IS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

6.D, THIS IS JUST TO EXPAND UPON OUR WEST BROADWAY URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, ESSENTIALLY TO INCREASE THE DEBT CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN ASSIST WITH TIF ASSISTANCE FOR THE LOCKWOOD DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL BE GOING AT THE BETWEEN 30TH AND 31ST STREET ON SECOND AVENUE.

SO THOSE ARE MY ITEMS UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS. I CAN JUMP TO RESOLUTIONS IF YOU WANT ME TO. YEP. OKAY, ITEM 7.B. SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ESSENTIALLY CONVEY OUR OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE WATER MAIN TO MALLARD DRIVE TO COUNCIL BLUFFS WATER WORKS.

IT IS NOW CONSTRUCTED. WE WANT TO GIVE THAT TO THEM SO THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON IT.

AND THEN I THINK THAT'S IT FOR MINE THAT I HAVE ON HERE.

YEP. THAT'S IT FOR ME. WELL, AND THEN, AND THEN WE HAVE ACTUAL CHRIS'S APPOINTMENT, SO THAT'LL BE GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, BACK TO PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SIX E WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE STEM SCHOOL.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL RIGHT NOW? I'VE GOT QUESTIONS, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE BETTER.

[00:35:02]

WILL BE HERE TONIGHT. FOLKS THAT CAN ANSWER THEM, I DON'T SEE HERE. SO. OKAY.

PERFECT. RESOLUTION 7.A THEN. WHO FROM LEGAL WANTS TO COVER THAT? OH, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. SO THIS IS KIND OF IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMAN GORMAN CONCERNS ABOUT BEING HEARD AND BEING ABLE. TO ADDRESS THINGS AT CITY COUNCIL.

SO THIS WOULD ALLOW JUST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

AND IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC NOTICE MORE EASILY.

SO IF ONE COUNCIL PERSON WANTS TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THEY CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND WE CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

IT WOULDN'T CHANGE SORT OF THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY WHERE IF YOU WANT CITY LEGAL TO UNDERTAKE A MAJOR PROJECT, WE'D STILL HAVE A VOTE ON THAT. DO WE NEED TO PUT ANY, LIKE CODIFY THAT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM? I KNOW LIKE THIS IS KIND OF REDUNDANT. NOW WE CAN REMOVE IT BECAUSE WE'VE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING, YOU SAID WE CAN PUT IT ON, BUT IT NEEDS MORE PEOPLE IN THE SPACE WE'VE CREATED TO PUT ON.

DO WE NEED TO PUT LIKE THAT TIME CONSTRAINT, 20 HOUR THING IN HERE AT ALL OR NO? I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY COULD. IT'S JUST BEEN SORT OF AN INFORMAL POLICY.

BUT YEAH, WE CERTAINLY COULD DO THAT. AND IF YOU WANTED TO TABLE THIS, THIS WEEKEND TO INCLUDE THAT AS WELL INTO THE COUNCIL RULES, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT OR SIMPLY MAKE A. AN AMENDMENT.

AN AMENDMENT. DOWN THE ROAD AS WELL. OKAY. DID YOU SAY THAT WAS ONLY ONE COUNCILMAN PER MEETING? NO, SO THIS THIS CURRENTLY THE RULES STATED. SECTION C, YOU SEE WHERE THE CROSS OUT PART.

WE'RE TALKING IN THE OPEN TO COMPLY WITH THE OPEN MEETING LAWS.

AT THE END, IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S BIG, WE STILL ARE GOING TO REQUIRE TWO PEOPLE TO PUT IT ON BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO OVERBURDEN LEGAL. RIGHT. BUT IF IT WAS SOMETHING SMALL AND WHERE WE DID MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING AS THEY HAD SAID IT WOULD ONLY REQUIRE ONE. SO WHY WOULD WE THEN NEED TO BRING ANOTHER PERSON IN? BUT THEN YOU'RE TALKING OUT. SO WE GOT TO TALK IN THE MAIN MEETING, BUT THEN SEE HOW IT KIND OF GETS CONVOLUTED.

AND THAT ISN'T EXACTLY HOW IT'S WRITTEN. SO IF THAT'S HOW YOU'D LIKE IT WRITTEN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY CHANGE IS THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

IF THERE'S SOME, A BIG DIRECTIVE, WE WOULD JUST HAVE THE VOTE, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD BY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THEN THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A VOTE OF THE MAJORITY.

OKAY. I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE DOING, I GUESS, BUT THAT'S FINE.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS, AMY. DO WE WANT TO JUST BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE STUDY SESSION AND THEN DISCUSS IT AT THE STUDY SESSION, BECAUSE IT WOULD THEN BE ADVERTISED AND THEN WE COULD.

WELL, WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T THEY CAN'T MOVE IT FORWARD.

SO YOU CAN'T MOVE IT FORWARD. I REALLY HAVE CONCERNS IF WE'LL PILE UP OUR AGENDA, IF WE GET TOO MUCH ON THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I SAID TO YOU WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS, BUT.

I THINK YOU GUYS, JOE AND MIMI ARE SAYING THE SAME THING. IT'S JUST YOU'RE IT'S SEMANTICS, I GUESS. BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG. THEY'RE TALKING TO SEPARATE.

SO THERE'S REALLY TWO DIFFERENT CONCERNS HERE.

AND THAT IS YOU BEING ABLE TO BE HEARD AND ALSO GIVING THE PUBLIC ADEQUATE NOTICE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN, ARE WE GOING TO PILE ON THE AGENDA? WELL, THE THE CONVERSE OF THAT WOULD BE TO JUST SPEAK UP WITHOUT GIVING PUBLIC NOTICE ON AN ISSUE.

SO I'D RATHER HAVE PUBLIC NOTICE AND HAVE AN COUNCILMAN BE ABLE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

BUT THAT ULTIMATELY IS UP TO YOU. ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

YEAH, IT WOULD BE THE NEXT, YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE ACTION ON THINGS THAT AREN'T ON THE AGENDA.

CORRECT. IF YOU IF YOU MOVE THIS TO ONE PERSON, AND AS LONG AS YOU MET THE DEADLINE, IT WOULD GO ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA.

OKAY. BUT FOR INSTANCE, WE DID, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH THIS WEEK FOR COUNCILMAN BUTTON.

SOMETHING THAT JUST TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS OF RESEARCH THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE A VOTE BECAUSE IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, A MINOR ISSUE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT ONE? DO YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS, STEVE, SO YOU CAN GET FURTHER?

[00:40:01]

FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED THE WHOLE COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

SECONDLY, I JUST DON'T WANT TO PILE, YOU KNOW, I THERE WAS A REASON THERE WAS TWO COUNCILMAN BEFORE, BUT IT'S BECOME SO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOME MEANS OF BEING ABLE TO GET THINGS CONSISTENTLY IN THE WORKS AND SO AND TAKE LOAD OFF OF LEGAL AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T I JUST DON'T WANT TO PILE UP A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT IS GOING TO TAKE UP TIME FROM THE CITY.

THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN. SO I'M LEAVING IT UP TO THE COUNCIL.

WHAT YOU GUYS DECIDE, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

BUT ALSO I DON'T WANT TO BE INSUFFICIENT EITHER, SO.

I THINK HOW IT READS IS FINE. AND IF WE NEED TO CHANGE IT AGAIN WE CAN.

7.C. CHIEF.

THIS WOULD BE A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A 28E AGREEMENT BETWEEN IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE THIS 28E WOULD RELATE BACK TO A GRANT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED LAST YEAR.

WE RECEIVED A $248,000 GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO WORK TOWARDS THE CBPD BECOMING ACCREDITED.

WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS CALEA ACCREDITATION, WHICH IS REALLY GOING TO STRENGTHEN THE CORE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE DEPARTMENT.

A VAST MAJORITY OF THAT $248,000 GRANT BUDGET WAS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

THAT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND SERVICE WOULD BE HELPING US, HELPING OUR COMMAND STAFF WRITE POLICY, DEVELOP AUDIT SYSTEMS, OVERSIGHT, ETC..

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF TRAINING FOR PERSONNEL AT THE DEPARTMENT FROM LINE LEVEL UP SO THAT EVERYONE CAN EMBRACE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN WITH ACCREDITATION.

SO THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO ENGAGE WITH IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY TO GET THOSE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO HELP US ON OUR PATH.

ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE ANY CITY FUNDS THAT GO TO THIS PROGRAM? THE, OTHER THAN THE TIME OF, YOU KNOW, STAFF TO WRITE POLICIES, WE'RE ALREADY DOING A LOT OF THAT.

THE GRANT, THE AWARD AND THE SOLICITATION WAS TO HELP AGENCIES GET OVER THE INITIAL HURDLE OF BECOMING ACCREDITED.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF EXTRA FUNDS AND EFFORTS COME FROM.

SO THAT WAS THE POINT OF APPLYING FOR AND GETTING THE GRANT.

THE 248,000 OVER THE NEXT, I THINK 2 OR 3 YEARS IS GOING TO HELP US EARN ACCREDITATION.

AND THEN ONCE WE'RE ACCREDITED NORMAL OPERATING COSTS, YOU KNOW, COMMAND STAFF IS DOING THEIR JOB AND EVERYONE'S, YOU KNOW, OPERATING. SO REALLY THE ONLY ONGOING COSTS ARE THE OPERATING COSTS OF, OF RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER? WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES IN TERMS OF TIME AND MANPOWER AND ALL THAT STUFF TO HANDLE THAT.

YEP. OKAY. THE LIFT IS, IS KIND OF GETTING THE PLANE OFF THE RUNWAY AND IN A COMFORTABLE CRUISING ALTITUDE.

AND ONCE WE GET THERE, WE, WE FULLY INTEND TO, TO HANDLE THIS WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS AND RESOURCES.

PERFECT. THANK YOU. 7.D.

TONY CLOWE, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. THIS IS KIND OF THE RESULT OF WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN PRIOR MEETINGS.

I WANT TO, I THINK I DISCUSSED IT AT LENGTH IN IN THE WRITING PREPARED FOR TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE JUST A COUPLE THINGS. ONE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HERE PUBLICLY THAT THIS IS A DECLARATION, IT'S NOT A DIRECTIVE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S NOT BINDING, IT'S NOT CHANGING REALLY ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST ESSENTIALLY MAKING A STATEMENT. SO WHEN SAY THE CHIEF OF POLICE OR ANY OTHER CITY PARTNERS ARE DEVELOPING POLICY IN THE FUTURE, THEY KIND OF HAVE THE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT, HOW YOU GUYS FEEL IN THE AREA.

THE SECOND THING WHICH AGAIN, THIS ISN'T CHANGING ANYTHING.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTICE. AND I THINK PROBABLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION, EVERYONE HAS A FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BE SECURE IN THEIR PERSONS AND THEIR PROPERTY.

AND ONE OF KIND OF THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS AREA AS OF LATE IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN ICE THEY, THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDICIAL PROCESS WHICH IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT

[00:45:07]

AND, BUT THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN DONE FOR LIKE AN ARREST WARRANT.

SO IF, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE'S BEEN DETERMINED TO BE, BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE TO BE HERE UNLAWFULLY, THEN THEY WOULD ISSUE AN ARREST WARRANT. BUT THAT DIDN'T USUALLY ALLOW FOR ENTRY INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

THAT'S A LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAT IS SEPARATELY DEFINED AND EMPHASIZED.

AND THE IOWA SUPREME COURT HAS REPEATEDLY FOUND THAT DESPITE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR LANGUAGE TO THE FOURTH AMENDMENT UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION, THAT IOWA'S SIMILAR PROVISION ACTUALLY PROVIDES A HIGHER LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO IOWA CITIZENS THAN IT DOES UNDER THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

AND SO WHERE THAT GETS A LITTLE MUDDY FOR OUR OFFICERS IS THAT IF THEY WERE TO ASSIST ON A ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT THAT WAS A SEARCH WARRANT TO GO INTO A HOUSE.

AND THEN WHILE THERE, THEY LOCATED EVIDENCE OF STATE CRIMES AS OPPOSED TO FEDERAL CRIMES, AND THEY WENT TO TRY TO PROSECUTE IT.

IT WOULD BE HIGHLY LIKELY THAT, THAT ALL OF THAT EVIDENCE THAT WAS FOUND WOULD BE THROWN OUT IF THE DEFENDANT DID A MOTION TO SUPPRESS BECAUSE UNDER STATE LAW AND UNDER STATE, WITH STATE ACTORS BEING OUR OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT THE STATE CONSTITUTION DOES REQUIRE THAT A JUDGE WHO'S SEPARATE AND DETACHED FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS VALIDLY REVIEWED AND ISSUED A SEARCH WARRANT. AND SO IT'S A LITTLE PROBABLY GETTING A LITTLE TOO INTO THE WEEDS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO, TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE IOWA SUPREME COURT HAS FOUND THAT IOWA CITIZENS HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PROTECTION.

AND I THINK THAT THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS IN THIS REALM, WHICH IS WHY PART OF THE STATEMENT KIND OF ADDRESSES THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, TO RECOMMEND OR SUGGEST THAT THEY VERIFY THAT THERE IS A VALID JUDICIAL WARRANT AS OPPOSED TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT.

ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. 7.E, PUBLIC WORKS.

THIS RESOLUTION MODIFIES THE PAY GRADE FOR THREE DIFFERENT JOB TITLES WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS.

CURRENT CHALLENGES WITH RECRUITMENT AND ONGOING VACANCIES LED US TO REVIEW THE COMPENSATION FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

WHAT WE FOUND IS IN BOTH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR THAT WE WERE FALLING SHORT OF THOSE THAT WERE TRYING TO HIRE THE SAME PEOPLE.

AND SO LOOKING AT THAT, WE IDENTIFIED ALL THE JOBS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR.

THESE ARE TECHNICIAN JOBS THAT REQUIRE CERTIFICATIONS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING TO MOVE THOSE FROM A GRADE 20 TO A GRADE 22.

JUST ASSUME YOU BUDGETED FOR THIS. IF NOT. IT WILL BE IN THE 27.

YEAH. THE, AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING, WE PROBABLY WON'T EVEN HAVE THEM BEFORE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

BUT THEY ARE. HOW MANY POSITIONS ARE YOU SHORT RIGHT NOW? TWO. SO WE HAVE VACANCIES IN TWO OF THE THREE JOB TITLES THAT ARE LISTED HERE.

THEY ARE, ONE IS SEWER AND ONE IS ROAD USE. SO THEY'RE NOT PROPERTY TAX-BASED SALARIES.

SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO ABSORB THE COST, THE RELATIVELY SMALL COST FOR THESE POSITION CHANGES.

YOU KNOW THE ONE THING THAT CAME TO MIND AS I WAS READING THAT MAT, YOU SAID YOU HAD ONE APPLICANT FOR ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS, ONE QUALIFIED APPLICANT. RIGHT. WE HAD MORE APPLICANTS, BUT THEY WERE NOT QUALIFIED. I CAN DO IT.

YOU JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HIRE ME. SOMETIMES THE MONEY IS YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO THAT.

AND IT'S QUICK FIX. WE'VE JUST GOT TO PAY EVERYBODY MORE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT SOMETIMES IT'S A JOB. SOMETIMES IT'S THE SET UP, THE SCENARIO.

THINGS LIKE THAT. HAVE YOU GUYS KIND OF LOOKED AT THIS INTERNALLY TO SAY, HEY, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITHIN THE POSITION TO MAYBE TRY AND ATTRACT MORE RATHER THAN JUST GO THE MONEY ROUTE? OR IS THAT KIND OF SET THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE CERTAIN THINGS ALL THE TIME? WELL, YEAH, GENERALLY WE LOOKED AT THE ENTIRE PACKAGE OF THE POSITION.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS. DO WE NEED ANY ADJUSTMENTS? IS IT SERVING OUR NEEDS, ETC.? IN THIS CASE, THE ONE APPLICANT THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH SPECIFICALLY STATED SALARY AS THE REASON HE DID NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THE OFFER. WE MADE AN OFFER, HE SAID THE MONEY'S NOT ENOUGH.

[00:50:03]

I'D PROBABLY SAY THAT TO PAY ME MORE, BUT. I'M GUESSING THIS PERSON WAS ALREADY EMPLOYED RIGHT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

YEAH. SO HE MAKES MORE PER HOUR. WE TRIED TO OFFER THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR HOURS ARE MORE STABLE LESS TRAVEL, AND PROBABLY OUR BENEFITS EXCEED THE BENEFITS HE'S RECEIVING.

BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH. IT CAME DOWN TO I NEED MORE MONEY HOURLY, SO WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THAT.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. I THINK IT WAS $20,000 A YEAR.

SO WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT WITH THIS CHANGE.

RIGHT. BUT IT DOES BRING US CLOSER. AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO COMPETE WITH UNION ELECTRICIANS OR HVAC TECHNICIANS BECAUSE THAT DIFFERENCE IS WAY TOO BIG, BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME OF THE SAME REQUIREMENTS.

SO AGAIN, OUR COMPETITION IS NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BUT IT'S THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES HAVE PAY HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES.

ONE OFF THE OTHER POSITIONS THAT MAT HAS IN HERE.

I THINK TOO YOUR QUESTION, HE LOOKED AT THE JOB AND SAID, OKAY, WE DON'T NEED A, THE SIGNAL SUPERVISOR RIGHT? WE DON'T NEED A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE THE ENTIRE STATE IS LOOKING FOR SUPERVISORS.

LET'S RECLASSIFY THE JOB. AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE MONEY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THE DISCUSSION IS WE CAN HIRE A TECHNICIAN AND WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THE SUPERVISOR ROLES TO OTHER PEOPLE ALREADY THAT ARE SERVING AS SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE OPERATIONS OF PUBLIC WORKS. PERFECT. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAD SOMEBODY ASK ABOUT THEY CALLED OR TEXTED ME AND SAID, HAVE WE LOOKED AT JUST HIRING PRIVATE SECTOR FOLKS TO DO THESE TYPE OF JOBS? AND I SAID, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

AND SO I FIGURED I'D BETTER ASK YOU ON LIKE A EVERY TIME WE NEED A SPECIFIC REPAIR OR SOMETHING.

IS THAT THE. YEAH, YEAH. LIKE TO DO THE JOB THAT THIS PERSON IS DOING, NOT HIRING THE POSITION.

NOT. YEAH. NOT AGREED. YEAH. CONTRACTED OUT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS THE QUESTION. YEAH. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. PEOPLE ON STAFF RATHER THAN HAVE PEOPLE ON STAFF. YES. THAT WAS THE QUESTION. WE DO SUPPLEMENT OUR STAFF WITH THAT. BUT YEAH, I KNOW WE DO. THE AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD THAT THESE ARE REQUIRE DAILY 40 HOURS MINIMUM A WEEK.

YEAH. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD WORK OUT TO HIRE.

I FIGURED BUT I'M SURE THEY'RE WATCHING. SO I THOUGHT I'D BETTER ASK THE QUESTION. BUT WE DO DEFINITELY SUPPLEMENT WHERE NEEDED. AND THESE, THESE PEOPLE ARE ALSO OFTEN ON CALL FOR AFTER HOURS.

YOU KNOW, IF THE FURNACE GOES OUT IN THIS BUILDING, THE HVAC TECHNICIAN IS GOING TO COME IN WHENEVER THAT IS.

OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL GETS KNOCKED OVER BY A CAR ACCIDENT.

ALL THOSE THINGS. SO THOSE ARE USUALLY PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

TO HAVE CONTRACTED WHEN IT'S AN. EMERGENCY. YEAH.

BUT DID YOU TELL THEM THEY'D HAVE A GREAT BOSS? A GREAT COWORKERS BOOKMARK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANKS, MATT. ALL RIGHT, 7.F. DANIELLE IS BACK FOR THE NEXT TWO.

OKAY, SO WE JUST WENT OVER THIS WITHIN THAT SLIDE.

SO F IS THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION, WHICH ESSENTIALLY JUST ALLOWS US TO REIMBURSE OURSELVES.

WE CAN INCUR THE COST NOW AFTER IT'S APPROVED INCUR THE COST NOW AND THEN WHEN WE ACTUALLY ISSUE THE BONDS.

SO IN THE FALL, WE COULD THEN REIMBURSE OURSELVES BACK FOR THE COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED.

SO THAT'S F AND THEN G IS AUTHORIZING THE PRE LEVY.

SO OUR BUDGET IS NOT SET YET FOR FY-27. SO THIS IS JUST IN ADVANCE OF DOING THAT TO AUTHORIZE US TO LEVY THE DEBT SERVICE LEVY TO FUND THE CIP. AND THAT'S THE $9.9 MILLION IS WHAT IS FY-27 CIP GO BONDED PROJECTS. OKAY. THANKS. THANKS. ALL RIGHT.

7.H IS THE APPOINTMENT OF CHRIS GIBBONS TO THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

I WILL JUST SAY CHRIS HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB AS THE INTERIM REALLY CAME IN PROVIDED NEW OUTLOOK ON SOME DIFFERENT THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP FROM THE PUBLIC AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF OUR ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE ON RECORD RIGHT NOW AND MOVING FORWARD WITH BRINGING SOME OF THAT STUFF TO YOU GUYS IN THE NEXT COUPLE COUNCIL SESSIONS.

SO I CONGRATULATE, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRIS OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HE'S DONE OVER THE LAST TWO PLUS MONTHS AND APPRECIATE ALL

[00:55:06]

I'D LIKE TO ALSO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. I'VE WORKED WITH CHRIS A LONG TIME, AS BEING ON PLANNING COMMISSION AND ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB AT PRESENTING AND CHANGE SOME THINGS THERE THAT REALLY HELPED US AS A COMMISSION, QUITE HONESTLY, AND GETTING THE INFORMATION TO US AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND SO CONGRATULATIONS APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WILLING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO GET THINGS DONE RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE STANDARD, HEY, WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY TYPE OF DEAL.

AND SO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE MORE OPEN WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT I'VE SEEN. SO GOOD FOR YOU.

OKAY. 8, APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS. WE ARE GOING TO SPLIT OUT.

WE HAVE FIVE TOBACCO RENEWALS AND THEN WE HAVE 8.B AND THEN SEPARATING OUT THE 8.C FOR A VOICE VOTE THERE. AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO CITY COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS. SO DISCUSSION, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS OR DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY CLERK TO.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE DODGE RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE, FY 27 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET.

FOR A REAL QUICK, THE SIGN ORDINANCE I BROUGHT UP LAST TIME THAT WE DISCUSSED IT WAS.

HOLD TIGHT. GOTCHA. SO PURSUANT TO THE CONVERSATION LAST TIME, I THINK I LET YOU KNOW THAT I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD TAKE MUCH TIME TO LOOK TO.

I DID LOOK INTO THAT. I MET WITH CHRIS ABOUT IT AS WELL.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A REALLY EASY ANSWER. BUT WHAT I ENDED UP DISCOVERING IS THAT WE ACTUALLY, OUR CODE HAS TWO CONFLICTING ORDINANCES. ONE SAYS WHAT YOU CAN DO, THE OTHER ONE SAYS YOU CAN'T DO.

AND THEY GOVERN EXACTLY THE SAME TOPIC. SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROBLEM IS FOR A NONCONFORMING SIGN UNDER OUR SIGN CODE, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SAYS FOR A SIGN THAT'S NONCONFORMING, MEANING IT WAS LEGAL AT THE TIME WHEN WE PASSED A LAW SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD NO LONGER BE LEGAL, THEY GET TO KEEP IT.

AND SO UNDER OUR SIGN CODE, WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PART THAT GOVERNS SIGNS IN THE WEST BROADWAY DISTRICT.

AND BECAUSE THE SIGN ORDINANCE HAS A NONCONFORMING SIDE CODE IT ALLOWS FOR THE REFACING OF THE SIGN, MEANING YOU CAN'T REALLY MAKE IT ANY BIGGER, YOU CAN'T STRUCTURALLY REPLACE IT.

BUT IF YOU SAY HAD A RESTAURANT AND YOU SOLD YOUR BUSINESS TO A NEW RESTAURANT AND THEY BASICALLY JUST PAINTED THE SIGN WITH A NEW RESTAURANT, THAT THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED UNDER OUR SIGN CODE.

HOWEVER, WE ALSO SEPARATELY HAVE OUR WEST BROADWAY OVERLAY AND UNDER THE OVERLAY, IT AGAIN LAYS OUT.

CAN'T DO THAT. WHAT, YOU KNOW LIKE BASICALLY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE NONCONFORMING SIGN PROVISION, IT AMOUNTS TO YOU CAN'T DO THAT. AND SO THEY ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE KIND OF COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH AND WORK INTO HOW TO CORRECT THIS.

AND SO WE WILL DO THAT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.

OKAY. 9.B. I GUESS I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

9.B WAS JUST MR. COUNCILMAN GORMAN HAD ASKED THAT THE BUDGET BE SENT AROUND SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD HAVE A LOOK AT THE GOLF COURSE BUDGET.

SO I KNOW THAT THAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE MAYOR TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING TO REVIEW THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND BE PREPARED TO COME TO DISCUSS THE SAME AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COUNCIL WISH TO DO ABOUT THAT. SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE APPEARING ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE REVIEWED IT AND HAVE THOUGHTS IF YOU WANT THEM, OR WE CAN WAIT AND TALK ABOUT IT LATER. GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS, I THINK.

YEAH. BY READING THROUGH THE AGENDA, IT'S, THE FIRST CONTRACT WAS WRITTEN IN 2017 OR 2018, RIGHT IN THERE. AND IT'S OUT OF DATE IN SEVERAL AREAS.

AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO READDRESS THAT CONTRACT, BRING IT UP TO THE STATE LAW.

AND ALSO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES WITHIN THE AGREEMENT AS FAR AS,

[01:00:03]

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE KIND OF AREAS.

SO, I MEAN, I'M LEAVING IT UP TO COUNCIL YOU GUYS GOT THE BUDGET, AND I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

I VOTED NO ON THIS ORIGINALLY. BUT IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MANAGEMENT FIRM RUNNING IT.

HOWEVER, SINCE THEY'VE TAKEN IT OVER, IT HAS BECOME PROFITABLE.

THE COURSE IS IN GREAT SHAPE. I WILL SAY THAT LANDSCAPES MANAGES COURSES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

BUT YEAH, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT.

I AGREE LIKE 3% BASE MANAGEMENT FEE WILL INCREASE BY 3% EVERY YEAR JUST.

WELL, THE OTHER THING TOO IS IF WE DON'T, IF WE DO NOT LOOK AT IT AND VOTE ON IT AUTOMATICALLY IS ACCEPTED.

IT RENEWS, YEAH. AND I THINK WE NEED TO REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE THAT YEAH, I THINK WE CAN PUT IN, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF AGREEMENTS OUT THERE THAT PROBABLY AUTO RENEW.

RIGHT? AND I THINK, YES, THIS IS PROBABLY. SO I THINK HAVING THESE COME UP, ANYTHING THAT AUTO RENEWS EVERY TWO YEARS, MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL WE SHOULD MAYBE REVIEW THOSE. AND I THINK LEGAL CAN, BUT.

SOME OF THE, THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD AND ESPECIALLY AROUND THIS WHEN STEVE HAD BROUGHT IT UP, I SAID THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE HAVE TO THE BUDGET NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE 15TH OR WHATEVER, BUT THAT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH HOW THINGS LINE UP NOW.

SO IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY THAT WE NEED TO PROBABLY GET A BETTER HANDLE ON SOME OF THE CONTRACTS, SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE'RE INTO TO MAKE SURE THEY MATCH, YOU KNOW, WITH STATE LAW AND MAKE SURE WE REVIEW THEM.

LIKE I SAID, EVERY, EVERY COUPLE YEARS WHEN IT DOES COME UP, MAYBE WE TAKE REVIEW OF IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE UNCOVERING A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE JUST THE DEFAULT HAS KIND OF BEEN TO. JUST LET IT.

SET THEM AUTO, AUTO RENEW. AND THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS, I MEAN, THIS, I REFERENCE A DIFFERENT NON-CITY RELATED INCIDENT WHERE I WAS INVOLVED IN SOMETHING AND THE ONLY MEANS OF CONTACT GIVEN WERE CALL THIS DEFUNCT AREA OR FAX TO.

YEAH. FAX? LIKE THAT'S NOT A THING ANYMORE. AND SO BUT THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AND IT ALWAYS JUST RENEWED AND THAT HOW IT HAD BEEN.

SO WE NEED TO, AND WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF OUR RECORD KEEPING THIS JUST HAPPENED TO BE ONE THAT, THAT HAD COME UP AND IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN, I BELIEVE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF, OF THINGS CURRENTLY BUT NEXT YEAR IS WHEN IT COMES ABOUT, SO WE NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE US PREPARING TO LOOK AT THAT WHEN THAT COMES AND TRACK IT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO.

YEAH. IS THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTRACT, SO WE MIGHT NEED TO AMEND THE DATE FOR WHEN IT'S DUE NEXT YEAR.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTRACT.

WE HAVE TO, THE WAY THE CONTRACT READS NOW, WE HAVE TO AGREE TO THEIR 27 BUDGET BY THE 15TH.

CORRECT. SO THE WAY THAT THE CONTRACT IS WRITTEN, IT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THEY YEARS AGO CHANGED THAT THE BUDGET OF THE CITY HAD TO BE APPROVED AT A CERTAIN TIME. AND NOW IT'S APRIL 30TH.

BUT THIS CONTRACT, BECAUSE IT WAS WRITTEN IN 2017 AND IT WAS UPDATED, IT'S STILL CURRENT IN 2022.

WE RENEWED IT AND EXTENDED IT FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET ANNUALLY RENEWS EVERY YEAR IN THE SENSE THAT UNLESS YOU SAY YOU AREN'T HAPPY WITH THE BUDGET, THEN THE BUDGET THEY PROPOSED GOES FORWARD. BUT IT ISN'T, THE CONTRACT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RENEW.

THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS. IT IS WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST OF 2027 AND AND ENTER INTO A NEW AGREEMENT ANYWAY.

SO WHEN YOU WANT US TO TAKE THAT ON AND START THOSE NEGOTIATIONS IS OBVIOUSLY UP TO YOU.

IF YOU'D RATHER THAT BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR CHOICE.

AND WE. DECEMBER 27TH IS A LONG WAY. YES. IF I'M CORRECT.

SO WHEN I TALKED WITH I CAN'T REMEMBER SOMEONE UPSTAIRS.

15. THE BUDGET, WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET BY THE 15TH.

AND IF NOT, THEN THE DEFAULT, IT WILL REVERT TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.

NO, THEN IT'S AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED. SO THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE THE BUDGET WRITTEN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AND RIGHTFULLY SO, IS THAT IF BY MARCH 15TH OF THIS YEAR.

SO IF BY MARCH 15TH, WE HAVEN'T GONE BACK AND SAID NO TO THEIR BUDGET, IT'S GOING TO BE DEEMED AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED, WHICH IS LANGUAGE I THINK LONG TERM WE WOULD WANT TO CHANGE TO SAY THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET WOULD CONTINUE ON UNTIL AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED, OR THAT IT WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC DENIAL UNTIL THE NEW BUDGET IS APPROVED, IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD REVERT TO. REVERT TO THE PREVIOUS.

WHICH IS MORE TYPICAL WITH AGREEMENTS. ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY, I MEAN, THAT LANGUAGE ITSELF IS PROBLEMATIC, AND I THINK WE SHOULD RENEGOTIATE THAT. THIS CONTRACT IS NOT TERRIBLE FOR THE CITY.

[01:05:01]

THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S. NO, BUT WE GOT SOME OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S NOT TO, YOU KNOW ASSIGN ANY BLAME OR TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB THEY ARE.

AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL THINGS IN THE CONTRACT THAT I THINK IF WE WERE GOING TO RENEGOTIATE, WE SHOULD LOOK AT. AND I THINK WHAT WE DISCUSSED IS MAYBE APPOINTING SOMEBODY TO ACT AS IF YOU WANTED US TO GO AHEAD NOW TO APPOINT AS THE NEGOTIATOR, TO ENTER INTO TERMS FOR THE RENEWED CONTRACT WHEN THE TIME CAME ABOUT AND KIND OF DECIDING ON WHAT THE TIME FRAME FOR THAT SHOULD BE.

WITH REGARD TO THE 3%, THAT IS TRUE. IT DOES, THE BASE MANAGEMENT FEE DOES INCREASE BY 3%.

AND IS THAT IN THE CONTRACT? IT IS IN THE CONTRACT.

BUT THE AVERAGE INFLATION RATE FROM 2019 TO 2016 HAS BEEN 3.45%.

SO WE'RE COMING OUT OKAY ON THAT RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, THAT'S BECAUSE 2022 AND 2020, I MEAN, HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PANDEMIC AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING OKAY UNDER THIS CONTRACT. OBVIOUSLY, IF 3% GOING FORWARD IS NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO ENTERTAIN OR LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD WITH PROPERTY TAX.

LEGISLATION, WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER WHETHER THAT'S SUSTAINABLE OR WHETHER YOU WANT TO PUT IN THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A DECISION THAT COUNCIL MAKES EVERY YEAR IS OBVIOUSLY UP TO YOU GUYS IN THE NEW AGREEMENT.

AND JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT, THEY'VE SUBMITTED THEIR BUDGET, I REVIEWED IT.

MAYOR WALSH APPROVED THE PRELIMINARIES I'VE REVIEWED.

IT'LL COME TO YOU GUYS AS THE LARGER PACKET, BUT IT'S BEEN, IT'S IN ALL OF OUR OPERATING PACKETS TO GO FORWARD. SO I DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS FOR THIS TIME AROUND.

TO JUST SIMPLIFY IT FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT VERY BRIGHT, WE CAN, WE ARE IN A CONTRACT UNTIL 2027.

WE CANNOT CHANGE THE INFORMATION WITHIN THE CONTRACT LIKE THE 3% OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

HOWEVER, WE CAN APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE A BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

CORRECT. AS THEY SEND THAT THROUGH. OR WE CAN TERMINATE ON 60 DAYS' NOTICE.

SO ALTHOUGH IT'S TRUE THAT THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE IS WRONG, RIGHT? AND THAT WE DON'T APPROVE OUR CITY BUDGET UNTIL APRIL.

AND SO IT WOULD HAVE AUTO, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HAVE SAID, YES, WE'LL APPROVE YOUR BUDGET.

WE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT IN THE CONTRACT TO TERMINATE ON 60 DAYS' NOTICE FOR NO REASON AT ALL.

IS THERE AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OKAY. SO REALISTICALLY, IF BY THE END OF APRIL, BECAUSE IT RUNS, YOU KNOW, ON A FISCAL YEAR, IF BY THE END OF APRIL, WE THOUGHT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.

THEY GAVE US THIS INSANE BUDGET FOR SOME REASON, WE MISSED THE DEADLINE AND WE DIDN'T GET IT. EVEN IF THAT HAPPENED, WE'D HAVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE ON 60 DAYS NOTICE. OKAY. OBVIOUSLY, WE'D BE SCRAMBLING TO FIND A NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY, BUT WE COULD TERMINATE ON 60 DAYS NOTICE, FORCE THEM BACK TO THE TABLE TO SAY THIS IS NOT AGREED.

AND SO WE AREN'T OUT OF LUCK IN THAT SITUATION.

WE CAN ALWAYS CANCEL ON 30 DAYS, AROUND 60 DAYS NOTICE.

SO IF WE WANTED TO SEEK TO TERMINATE EARLY, WE COULD TRY TO DO THAT, BUT IF WE WANTED TO UNDER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND THEN PROCEED.

THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND AGAINST TERMINATING.

NO, I THINK WE KEEP. I THINK BEFORE 2027 YOU GUYS ARE THE LAWYERS.

WHAT YOU DECIDE WHEN WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT AND YOU TELL US.

BUT I THINK FIGURE OUT WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND LET US KNOW BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONTRACT.

YES THERE ARE. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE COULD GO BACK AND ASK FOR SOME.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS NOT INSANE. WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ASK FOR FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE IS NOT, YOU KNOW, OUT OF LINE. I WOULDN'T THINK WITH OTHER CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY HAS AND THAT THEY WOULD BE AMENABLE TO.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE WITH US CHANGING THE DATE TO ALIGN WITH CURRENT LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY'LL OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, NO CONTRACT IS PERFECT. YOU GIVE A LITTLE, THEY GIVE A LITTLE, BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD RENEGOTIATE AND STILL KEEP THEM ON IF IT WAS THAT WE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE AND WE WANT TO SEEK A NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT CHANGES THE TIME FRAME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO OUT FOR RFP ON THAT.

RIGHT. AND WITHOUT KNOWING WHO'S GOING TO COME BACK AND WHO'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BID THE PROJECT AND WANT TO BE THE MANAGER OF A, OF OUR GOLF COURSE, THEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO SAY HOW LONG WE WOULD NEED.

OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, 6 TO 8 MONTHS LEAD TIME IS FINE.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT FOR RFP, THEN I WOULD SAY WE SHOULD START AROUND A YEAR. OKAY.

AND I AGREE. I DON'T THINK WE WANT ANY CHANGES RIGHT NOW, BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, STEVE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE IF WE NEED TO OR AT LEAST SEE THE INFORMATION PRIOR.

OKAY. I THINK WE NEED TO. IT WAS SUCH AN ITEM IN OUR LAST ELECTION CYCLE, AND NOBODY REALLY HAD AN ANSWER OF WHAT THAT PLACE, HOW MUCH MONEY. HOW MUCH IT TAKES. OR IS COSTING THE CITY.

AND WE REALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET THAT THEY PRESENTED FOR 27, IT HAS NO CAPITAL IN IT.

THEY DON'T. WE OWN IT. SO THEY DON'T CLAIM ANY CAPITAL.

IT DOESN'T SHOW THE COST OF ANY. JUST THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

ON THE BUILDING OR REPAIRS ON LIKE WATER SPRINKLER SYSTEM, NO REPAIRS ON.

JUST.

[01:10:03]

AND I MEAN. SORRY, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ZACH BRIEFLY BEFORE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO IT, BUT WE WERE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT THE FATE OF THE GOLF COURSE WAS GOING TO BE.

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WE WERE HOLDING OFF ON BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT. SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THE EQUIPMENT REPAIR COSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER AS WE HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACING EQUIPMENT THAT THE CITY OWNS. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ACCURATE THOSE NUMBERS WOULD BE LOOKING FORWARD, KNOWING THAT WE WERE HOLDING BACK ON PURCHASING THE NEW EQUIPMENT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE LESS MAINTENANCE. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IN THAT THREE ITEM, THREE LINE. BUDGET, IN THE TOTAL BUDGET THAT WE SEE DOESN'T REFLECT THE CAPITAL COSTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE GOLF COURSE. DANIELLE WALKED UP WITH A LITTLE PURPOSE, I DON'T KNOW.

SHE WALKED UP. SHE'S GOT SOME INFORMATION. YOU'RE SAYING NOT ALL THE EXPENSES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET.

AS DISCUSSED LAST TIME. THE BUDGET THAT I SENT YOU.

RIGHT. EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS AN EXPANDED BUDGET.

YEAH, IT'S VERY CONDENSED. SO THE ONE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE THAT WE RECEIVED THAT IS LINE BY LINE HOW THEIR GL LOOKS VERSUS WHAT OUR GL CONSOLIDATED LOOKS LIKE. SO I THINK IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR OR AT SOME POINT LAST YEAR OR YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE COMPILED A ONE PAGE DOCUMENT FOR THE GOLF COURSE.

AND IT SHOWED ACTUALS FOR ONE SLIDE AND BUDGET COMPARISON FOR ANOTHER IN ONE OF THEM, WE FACTORED IN THE CAPITAL COSTS. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET DOWN TO THE REPAIR COSTS LEVEL, BUT IT'S GOING TO SHOW YEAR OVER YEAR HOW MUCH THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY BRINGING IN. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CAPITAL COSTS OF THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND SHOWING WHERE THEY ARE AT OVERALL, WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL TO PROVIDE A MORE CURRENT ONE.

SURE. INCLUDING THE FY 27 BUDGET. SO YOU CAN SEE THEM SIDE BY SIDE YEAR OVER YEAR MIGHT GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.

IT'S STILL GOING TO BE ROLLED UP TO A CERTAIN CONSOLIDATED LEVEL, BUT IT SHOULD BREAK IT INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES LIKE COMMODITIES, REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE, THINGS LIKE THAT. IF THAT'S HELPFUL, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE FOR ME, WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IF THERE'S OTHER COSTS OUTSIDE OF THAT.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE A NUMBER AND IT SAYS, OH, WELL, THEY MADE X AMOUNT.

WELL, THE CITY REALLY WE DIDN'T. BUT IT'S EASY TO SAY, OH, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

AND THEN YOU START FACTORING IN. NOW THAT'S NOT A MANAGEMENT COMPANY ISSUE.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO, SO. ALSO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT'S COMING.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE DOING A BAD MANAGEMENT JOB. I AGREE.

I'M JUST SAYING WE, WE'RE NOT SEEING A TRUE REFLECTION OF.

TRUE NUMBERS. OF TRUE NUMBERS OF WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.

AND WE SHOULD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR THAT TONIGHT IS THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE MARCH 15TH.

SO IF YOU WANT TO REJECT THE BUDGET, YOU HAVE TO DO IT TONIGHT.

IF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE BUDGET TO GO INTO EFFECT, IT WILL DO THAT ON THE 15TH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. BACK TO THE STUDY SESSION ITEM D, DISCUSSION OF DONOR PLASMA, DONOR BOARDS, AND RECOGNITION OF DONORS FOR THE RIVER'S EDGE PROJECTS AND AMENITIES.

NOT SURE WHY YOU SAID THAT. I HAVE JUST.

I JUST PRINTED OFF. MAYOR SHUDAK HAD TAKEN SOME PICTURES DOWN AT THE DONOR BOARDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE DONORS THAT ARE THERE FROM THE BOARDS THAT GOT FLOODED OUT BEFORE. SO WE DID IN FACT REPLACE THOSE BOARDS AFTER THEY WERE FLOODED.

THEY WERE IDENTIFIED AT SOME POINT AS, THEY'RE CALLING THEM TEMPORARY BOARDS, BUT THEY ARE PERMANENT FIXTURES.

AND THEY HAVE ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED TO THE PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY.

SO OTHER THAN THE AMENITIES THAT SYNC IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE PRIOR PROJECTS ARE LISTED ON THESE BOARDS, JUST AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARDS THAT GOT DESTROYED IN THE FLOOD. WITH REGARD TO THE PROJECT GOING FORWARD WE TALKED ABOUT THE DONOR PLAZA AND I HAD ASKED MR. ON FEBRUARY 25TH, IF HE COULD PROVIDE BECAUSE HE HAS TALKED TO CITY STAFF AND AT MEETINGS WHERE CITY STAFF ARE PRESENT ABOUT THE DONOR RECOGNITION THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING ON THE AMENITIES.

AND SO THERE IS, ON EACH OF THE AMENITIES, THERE ARE 20 DONORS AND ON THE MID AMERICAN ADVENTURE TOWER, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S BEING CALLED. YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A BIG SIGN THAT SAYS MID AMERICAN ADVENTURE TOWER.

[01:15:04]

AND THAT WILL BE LIT UP, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AT ALL TIMES.

THAT'S ALSO THOSE 20 DONORS ARE ALSO BEING RECOGNIZED ON THE CHARLES E.

LINCOLN CAMPUS PIER, WHERE THERE WILL ALSO BE A RECOGNITION BOARD FOR ALL OF THE DONORS.

AND THEN AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ON THE FUTURE AMENITIES AS WELL.

AND SO HE SAID, I DON'T HAVE THE MOCKUPS YET OF WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE TO PROVIDE TO YOU FOR COUNCIL.

BUT WILL THEY ACCEPT MY ASSURANCE THAT ALL 20 DONORS, FOR THE PROJECT, ARE BEING RECOGNIZED ON EACH AMENITY, AND SO THEY WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON ALL OF THE AMENITIES.

AND IT WILL ALSO BE THE IOWA WEST PLAYGROUND, WHICH YOU GUYS SAW THE PLANS FOR AS WELL.

THAT THAT WILL BE SEPARATE OF. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN THE WORKS AND WAS IN ADDITION TO THIS DONOR PLAZA.

OH, RIGHT. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I MAKE SURE I JUST UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WAS.

WHEN HE SAID THAT, WAS HE SAYING THAT WE DON'T NEED THE OTHER DONOR PLAZA BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY RECOGNIZED ON EACH.

HE'S NOT SAYING THAT. YOU JUST ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE WERE ALREADY RECOGNIZING THE DONORS, HOW WE WOULD BE RECOGNIZING THE DONORS OF THE PAST PROJECTS.

BECAUSE THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE BOARDS WERE FLOODED OUT AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE PEOPLE WERE RECOGNIZED. AND SO WHEN THE MAYOR WENT DOWN AND SHE TOOK PICTURES OF THE EXISTING BOARDS FOR THOSE, THAT'S WHAT THIS PICTURE IS. AND I WAS HOPING TO ALSO HAVE THE MOCKUPS FOR HOW THEY WOULD BE RECOGNIZED ON THE AMENITIES.

HE'S NOT ADVOCATING AGAINST THE DONOR BOARD OR THE DONOR PLAZA.

HE'S JUST SAYING THEY ARE BEING RECOGNIZED ELSEWHERE.

BECAUSE I'D ASKED THE QUESTION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AWARE THAT THERE ALSO IS GOING TO BE DONOR RECOGNITION ON THE AMENITIES.

CAN YOU PROVIDE THOSE THINGS? WITH REGARD TO THE, BECAUSE DANIELLE HAD PRESENTED ON THE BONDS, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK. WE DID MEET ZACH AND DANIELLE AND I.

THOSE ARE BONDS THAT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER PROJECTS, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO GO AHEAD, THOSE BONDS COULD BE REALLOCATED WITHOUT THE NEED TO GO BACK AND RECLASSIFY THEM TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE CITY IS HOPING TO GET DONE.

I THINK LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, LIKE WE CAN'T JUST GIVE A $600, $600,000 BLANK CHECK.

LIKE WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE COSTS ARE. AND I THINK MAYBE 50 TO 100 IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MAYBE LOOK AT.

BUT I JUST THINK WITHOUT KNOWING THE NUMBER, WE CAN'T JUST.

THE TOTAL COST TONIGHT. HOW MUCH DO THESE COST? CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YEAH. THE. HOW MUCH ARE THESE COST? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WELL, RIGHT. SO, I GUESS THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

SO IF THE DONORS ARE ALL FOR THE GREAT LAWN ARE ALREADY RECOGNIZED IN EACH AMENITY IS GOING TO HAVE A PLAQUE RECOGNIZING THOSE.

WHAT TYPE OF ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION DO YOU WANT TO SPEND OR WHY WOULD YOU WANT AN ADDITIONAL SIGN? I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION. YEAH, I'M NOT SAYING I DO.

IF WE LOOK BACK, WE DID. WE ALL SAW IT. YOU, ME, STEVE, JOE.

MAYBE. HE WASN'T HERE. HE WASN'T HERE. WE SAW IT, YEAH.

AND THE 600,000 WAS IN THERE, RIGHT? SO WE MISSPOKE WHEN WE SAID WE DIDN'T SEE IT.

WE ALL DID SEE IT, RIGHT? I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR IT, BUT WE DID.

IT WAS THERE. SO I, I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I TOLD PETE THAT WE HADN'T SEEN IT SO PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE.

IT WAS IN THERE. IT WAS ON OUR AGENDA. WE SEE A LOT OF STUFF, SO I DON'T, AND IT WAS YEARS AGO.

IT WASN'T LIKE IT WAS TWO MEETINGS AGO. RIGHT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE RECOGNIZED EVERYWHERE ELSE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEM AGAIN. THE COST OF THE DONOR PLAZA, IF WE WERE TO GO AHEAD WITH IT AS IT IS, IS $730,000. APPROXIMATELY 600 OF THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE MONEY FROM FOR THE CITY, AND THEN IT WAS GOING TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL COST USING THE FUNDS RAISED.

SO MY RECORD, I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.

BUT AND I PUT THIS IN THE EMAIL, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THEY ARE ALREADY IDENTIFIED.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE REPLACED THESE WALLS ONCE FROM THE FLOOD.

SO THESE ARE NEW WALLS THAT ARE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED DOWN THERE, OR NEWER WALLS BECAUSE THEY WERE REPLACED AFTER THE FLOOD.

AND EACH AMENITY IS GOING TO HAVE A DONOR, SO UNLESS WE WANT TO RETHINK THEM ALL IN ONE LOCATION, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IS WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, AND WE USE THAT MONEY TO GO BUILD A PARK ON OUR EAST END BECAUSE THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT WE HAVE I'VE IDENTIFIED LAND AND WE'VE STARTED THE CONVERSATIONS TO PUT A NEW PARK OUT EAST.

THESE SIGNS. YEAH. YEAH, THEY'RE ON THE THEY'RE BOLTED IN.

YEP. DOWN BELOW. WE JUST MADE A BIG ISSUE ABOUT PUTTING ANYTHING DOWN IN ON THE.

YEAH. SO WE COULD MOVE THEM UP IF YOU WANT. BUT TO BUILD A NEW WALL AND TO SPEND $600,000.

CRAZY. 730. 735. I MEAN IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS. YEAH.

[01:20:03]

THEY SPENT 130,000. WELL, TO BE FAIR, THEY'RE ALSO SPENDING $60 MILLION DOWN THERE.

60 MILLION, TO BE EXACT. YEAH. SO THIS WAS ALL KIND OF SOLD TO THE DONORS, WE'LL SAY THROUGH PETE AS HE WAS PUTTING THE PROJECT TOGETHER.

DO WE KNOW WHAT HIS, DID HE SAY WHAT HIS THOUGHT PROCESS WAS ON THIS? IF WE ALREADY HAVE NAMES SPREAD THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

I DO NOT KNOW IF, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE OF SORT OF THE CHANGE IN STAFF AND THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN EXACTLY THE IDEA FOR THE DONOR PLAZA CAME ABOUT.

IT WAS NOT IN THE 2021 DISCUSSIONS. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT CAME ABOUT WHEN YOU DID THE ORIGINAL MOU.

THERE IS NO DONOR PLAZA IN THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS FOR THE AMENITIES ONLY.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT THE DONOR PLAZA WAS IMAGINED.

I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT HE STARTED DISCUSSING IT OR THINKING ABOUT IT.

I DO KNOW THAT WHEN IT SHOWED UP IN THE CIP, THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT I HAVE ONLY JUST RECORD INFORMATION, SO. OKAY. WELL, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, RIGHT? THIS IS HERE FOR STUDY SESSION. STUDY SESSION? YES, YES. OKAY. I LIKE THE IDEA OF USING THAT MONEY FOR A DIFFERENT PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

TO BE HONEST AND CLEAR, WE DON'T NEED COUNCIL APPROVAL TO FOR THE MONEY TO BE REALLOCATED SO IT WOULD.

ZACH, YOU'RE GOING TO ZACH'S GOING TO ALLOCATE AND USE HIS MONEY AS HE SEES FIT.

AND AS HE BUILDS PROJECTS, THEY'LL COME BACK BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL. SO WE DON'T, UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS ME TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON.

THIS WOULD BE THE END OF THE DISCUSSION FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. SO IF A COUNCIL MEMBER NOW, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WISHED TO PUT IT ON FOR AN ITEM, THEY WOULD NEED TO DO THAT THROUGH THE REGULAR PROCESS OR DIRECT CITY STAFF TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. 1.E, LIME SCOOTER DISCUSSION. ZACH AND MAYBE MATT.

MATT SAYS NO, NEVER MIND. MATT GOT THE ORIGINAL EMAIL, THEN PASSED IT OVER TO ZACH.

SO THAT'S THE END OF MATT'S INVOLVEMENT. I'M SURE MATT WILL BE UP HERE TO HELP ME WITH THIS.

SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STANDING HERE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IN 2024.

THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL WITH THE CITY OF OMAHA TO ALLOW SCOOTERS INTO COUNCIL BLUFFS.

AND SO IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN REVISITED AT THE, WITH THE HELP OF HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE. OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE, THE E-BIKES IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE.

WE CURRENTLY DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL OPERATING OF HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE.

AND SO THEY BROUGHT IT BACK UP AS A WAY FOR THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS TO SUPPORT THEIR GENERAL OPERATING THROUGH THE REVENUE THAT COULD BE GENERATED THROUGH THE LIME SCOOTERS.

SO WE, MATT AND I MET WITH THE CITY OF OMAHA FOLKS AND THE HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE FOLKS SO THAT WE COULD KIND OF RELOOK AT THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE REGULATIONS THAT OMAHA HAS IN PLACE.

IF THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CREATING OUR NO GO ZONES WITHIN THE CITY AND WORKING WITH OUR GIS FOLKS TO GEOFENCE AREAS WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO ALLOW THE SCOOTERS AND WHERE WE WOULDN'T WANT TO ALLOW THEM. AND THEY ARE ASKING IF THE COUNCIL HAS AN APPETITE FOR THIS TO ACTUALLY KICK OFF FOR THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.

SO, JUNE. SO I THINK THE QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS, ARE YOU OKAY WITH US STARTING THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH AND BRING SOMETHING BACK FOR YOU TO VOTE ON? OR IS, OR IS THE COUNCIL NO LONGER INTERESTED IN HAVING THE SCOOTERS IN TOWN? SO YOU JUST GEOFENCE THEM IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY.

CORRECT, YEAH. IS THERE AN INSURANCE COST THAT THE CITY INCURS TO HAVE? WHAT'S THE LIABILITY ON IT? RIGHT. SO THE GEOFENCING QUESTION, SO THERE'S GEOFENCING FOR WHERE THEY CAN OPERATE AND ALSO WHERE THEY CAN BE PARKED.

SO IF THEY'RE NOT PARKED PROPERLY, THE INTENT IS THAT THE, WHOEVER PAID FOR THE TO USE THE SCOOTER, THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO GET CHARGED UNTIL IT WAS PROPERLY PLACED IN A, IN AN AREA DESIGNATED.

YOU TAKE A PICTURE. YEAH. AND THEN IF ALSO, IF YOU RIDE IT INTO A LOCATION THAT'S NOT ALLOWED.

IT SLOWS IT WAY DOWN. IT ACTUALLY STOPS. SO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO MANUALLY OPERATE THE SCOOTER UNTIL YOU GET BACK INTO AN AREA THAT WHERE IT IS ALLOWED.

[01:25:01]

WE JUST WANT IT NEAR THE RIVERFRONT OR SOMEWHERE WHERE IT'S CLOSE TO OMAHA.

AND THEY ONLY OPERATE IN A SMALL AREA WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF SCOOTERS.

UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT. WHAT YOU MEAN BY LIMITED NUMBER? SO THEY WOULD ACTUALLY.

THE CHARGING STATION BE OVER HERE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THEY CAN ACTUALLY SPECIFY HOW MANY SCOOTERS ARE.

CAN BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER. NOW OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE CAN RIDE THEM ACROSS THE KERREY BRIDGE, LET'S SAY. BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT, THERE'S NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES ON THAT BRIDGE NOW.

SO YOU COULD GEOFENCE THEM TO SHUT THEM OFF. RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE DESIRE OF EITHER COMMUNITY, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. SO THERE'S A LOT TO WORK OUT INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW IT WOULD OPERATE.

THE CITY HAS ALREADY AGREED TO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL BLUFFS AND OMAHA TO DO IT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT IT.

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT, IS WE'RE REVISITING IT NOW ON THE REQUEST OF HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE BECAUSE THEY WILL ULTIMATELY, THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED, THEY WOULD SEE SOME OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THOSE PEOPLE THAT RENT SCOOTERS WOULD GO BACK TO HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE TO OFFSET THE COST OF OPERATING THAT SYSTEM IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. WHAT DO YOU TWO THINK? HONEST OPINION, BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO GET CALLS.

I MEAN, YEAH, AND SO ARE WE. BUT YOU. I CAN OF WANT TO KNOW MORE WHAT PD THINKS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL.

YEAH. THAT'S YOU BUD. IT IS. I MEAN.

IT'S LIME SCOOTERS THAT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE IT'LL BE LIME SCOOTERS IN THE. BIRD LIME, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF.

YEAH, THERE'S LIKE FIVE, SIX OF THEM. CURRENT VENDOR FOR OMAHA IS LIME, BUT IT CAN CHANGE WHEN THEY REBID IT TO ANOTHER VENDOR.

OR MAYBE IT'S GOING TO BE TWO VENDORS. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AS FAR AS WHO THE OPERATING COMPANY IS.

BUT HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION FROM OMAHA ON LIKE, OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN HAVING THE LIME SCOOTERS THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

LIKE WHAT THE RESULT HAS BEEN LIKE IF THEY SAW ANY SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS OR LIKE, OH, WE REGRET DOING THIS BECAUSE OF THIS OR WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN THEFT OF THE SCOOTERS OR IT'S IT COSTS, YOU KNOW, THIS OR THIS. LIKE, HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY INSIGHT FROM OMAHA THAT WE COULD USE TO HELP BASE OUR DECISION ON.

YEAH, THERE'S SEVERAL QUESTIONS HERE, SO I WON'T TRY TO ANSWER AS BEST I CAN, BUT.

SO THE STAFF COMMENTS TO ZACK AND I WERE THEY'RE POSITIVE AND IN FACT, THEY'VE EXPANDED THEIR USAGE.

SO THEY USED TO LIMIT THE HOURS, THEY'VE EXTENDED THOSE LATER BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING A BENEFIT FROM HAVING THE SCOOTERS.

SO I WOULD SAY MY IMPRESSION FROM THE OMAHA STAFF IS THEY'RE HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE THEM.

THEY HAVE STATED TO US THAT THE OVERSIGHT BURDEN IS ON THE PROVIDER, NOT THE CITY STAFF.

OKAY. NOW MY CONCERN IS THAT A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL BLUFFS IS NOT GOING TO KNOW TO CALL LIME WHEN THEY FIND A SCOOTER IN THEIR FRONT YARD.

THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY'RE GOING TO CALL PUBLIC WORKS.

THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THE POLICE STATION. SOMEBODY.

PUT IT IN THE TRASH. LOCALLY, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL LIME AND SAY, COME GET YOUR SCOOTER AND PUT IT IN THE PROPER PLACE.

SO THERE WILL BE, I THINK, SOME ADMINISTRATIVE TIME ON CITY STAFF.

LIKE HAS IT IN OMAHA, DID THEY WHEN THEY IMPLEMENTED THESE SCOOTERS THERE.

HAVE THEY SAID IF THEY HAD AN INCREASE IN CALLS TO THE PD OR TO CITY HALL AND ABOUT PEOPLE REPORTING THESE SCOOTERS IN THEIR PROPERTY? THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US ANY STATISTICS LIKE THAT. MY IMPRESSION WAS THEY DID NOT SEE IT AS A BURDEN, BUT. THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THERE WAS OKAY WITH IT.

THE CITY STAFF. BUT I WOULD SAY THEIR STAFFING LEVELS ARE FAR DIFFERENT THAN OURS.

SO WHEN THEY GET AN EXTRA CALL OR TWO PER DAY, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? YOU DON'T? NO. AND THE MAYOR'S 311 WEBSITE, WE COULD PUT BIRD SCOOTER.

SCOOTER. YEAH. DIRECT HIM OVER. I THINK THEY SEE IT AS A AS A BENEFIT.

IT HELPS WITH MOBILITY AROUND THE CITY, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE LIKE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES AND OTHER THINGS WHERE THERE IS ALREADY CONGESTION WITH PEOPLE.

THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO MOVE PEOPLE WITHOUT HAVING AUTOMOBILES.

I THINK OUR USE HERE WILL BE DIFFERENT. IT WILL BE MORE RECREATION BASED, PROBABLY IN COUNCIL BLUFFS MORE THAN MOBILITY, BUT IT MAY SERVE FOR MOBILITY FOR SOME PEOPLE.

IT'S JUST ONE OTHER TYPE OF MOBILITY. YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE THE BIKES, WE'LL HAVE AND THEN THE SCOOTERS.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THE AREA THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO START WITH? MY CONCERN IS IF YOU'RE JUST DOING RIVERFRONT, THAT'S NOT A VERY BIG SPACE FOR THESE THINGS TO GO.

I MEAN, PEOPLE WANT TO RIDE THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT OR GO SOMEPLACE.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A DESTINATION. HEY, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THIS PLACE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. BUT WOULD YOU.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW? OR WOULD YOU HAVE TO COMMIT IT TO BROADWAY OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY COULD GET SOMETHING TO EAT OR DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR?

[01:30:08]

RIGHT. BUT IF YOU. WANT THEM ON SIDEWALKS, SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE IT? THAT. IN THE STREET OR ON A TRAIL NETWORK. FIRST AVENUE TRAIL.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY WITH THEM BEING ON TRAILS, BUT THAT HAS TO BE DECIDED.

RIGHT. AND I WASN'T SAYING JUST THE RIVERFRONT, BUT GENERALLY THAT'S THE FIRST.

YOU CAN ALWAYS EXPAND. POINT OF CONNECTION AND THEN WHERE ELSE DO WE WANT IT? RIGHT. THE THOUGHT WAS, IS THAT IF THERE WAS AN APPETITE FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MOVE SO QUICKLY AND GET THESE DONE IN 4TH JUNE FOR THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, IS THAT WE WOULD START IN THE RIVERFRONT WITH LIKE 20 SCOOTERS ALLOWED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, A SMALL NUMBER, MANAGEABLE NUMBER, SEE HOW IT GOES FROM THERE, AND THEN MAKE THE DECISION IF WE WANT TO EXPAND OR NOT.

WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OVER HERE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN, HOW DO YOU RESTRICT? YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESTRICT THAT. THEY'RE GOING TO PARK THEM OVER HERE OR THEY'RE GOING TO END UP OUT OF THERE GEOFENCING AREA AND DIE ON THAT TRAIL, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A TRUCK AROUND AND PICK THEM ALL UP. THAT'S I DON'T SEE WHY WE DON'T CALL THEM AND HAVE THEM COME PICK THEM UP.

RIGHT. THEY HAVE THEY HAVE GPS ON THEM SO THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED AT AND THEY WOULD COME PICK THEM UP.

I THINK THE RESTRICTING NUMBER IS THE DISTRIBUTION.

SO THEY WOULD PRE-POSITION A CERTAIN NUMBER IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

YEAH. THE ONES THAT COME OVER TRAVERSE BACK AND FORTH, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S CONTROLLED.

IS IT STILL I MEAN, I USED TO SEE TRUCKLOADS, I'D PICK UP 20 OF THEM IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP AND GO CHARGE THEM AND GETS CREDIT.

IS THAT STILL THE CASE? I THINK THAT'S STILL HOW THAT AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE LINE LINE. BUT I'VE SEEN LINES.

I THINK GENERALLY THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT TODAY IS THEY PAY PEOPLE PER SCOOTER TO CHARGE THEM, YOU KNOW, AND THEN RETURN THEM TO A SPECIFIC SITE THAT'S ALL CONTROLLED BASED ON MAPPING.

THAT TELLS THAT PERSON THAT'S PICKING UP WHERE TO PICK UP THE SCOOTER AND WHERE TO DEPLOY THE SCOOTER.

SEE, I THOUGHT LIKE JUST, I COULD JUST GO PICK 20 OF THEM UP AND GO CHARGE THEM MYSELF. THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY LIME. YES, YES. KIND OF LIKE UBER DRIVERS WORK FOR UBER.

YEAH. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, ANYBODY COULD PICK THEM UP AND GO CHARGE THEM AND GET CREDIT. AND THAT'S HOW THEY GOT TO RIDE THEIR OWN SCOOTERS. THAT WHEN IT FIRST I'M SURE IT'S CHANGED NOW. I GUESS THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. BUT YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO JUST YOU COULD PICK THEM UP, CHARGE THEM AND THEN YOU GOT CREDIT. SO HOPEFULLY NOW. YEAH THAT'S DIFFERENT.

SO AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT LIABILITY. SO AGAIN THERE THERE'S A LIABILITY WAIVER ON WHEN YOU RENT THE SCOOTER.

AND THAT'S BETWEEN THE PROVIDER AND THE RIDER.

OBVIOUSLY IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY.

I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO BE NAMED IN A LAWSUIT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY OR ON OUR PROPERTY.

BUT I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME RELEASE OF SOME SORT IN OUR AGREEMENTS, BUT IT DOESN'T EXEMPT US FROM EVERYTHING WOULD BE MY POSITION.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE BIKES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TODAY. YEAH, YEAH.

SO I DON'T THINK ZACH AND I ARE ADVOCATING IT FOR IT DIRECTLY.

I DO THINK IT'S UNUSUAL THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS IS THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY WITH THE HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE THAT DOESN'T FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE.

OMAHA DOES. RALSTON, PAPILLION, THEY ALL FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE AND COUNCIL BLUFFS DOES NOT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE. WHEN YOU SAY CONTRIBUTE WHAT THEY PAY THEM ANNUALLY TO HAVE THOSE BIKES IN THEIR TOWN.

AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. THAT'S PERFECT. WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S SO UNIQUE ABOUT IT.

SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL FOR ME. SO NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO ALLOW LIME TO COME IN TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO MY CONCERN IS THEY'RE GOING TO SAY IF WE SAY NO TO LIGHT THAT WAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE THE DID THEY DID THEY GIVE US ANY INFORMATION ON HOW OFTEN THE BIKES ARE USED? THEY DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

CAN YOU GIVE THAT TO US? BECAUSE I DON'T EVER SEE THEM. I DON'T HAVE IT DIRECTLY, BUT WE CAN GET IT. YEAH. YEAH, I THINK, I THINK IF YOU CAN TELL US IF THE BIKES ARE BEING USED AND THERE'S SOME VALUE, THEN MAYBE I DO REMEMBER THE BAR GRAPH ANNUALLY AND IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY GOING UP EACH YEAR. AND I THINK THEY HAVE SOME, SOME PROGRAM CHANGES THEY HOPE TO IMPLEMENT HERE THAT WILL INCREASE RIDERSHIP IS WHAT THEY PRESENTED TO US.

THEY THINK RIDERSHIP IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

I THINK HAVING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION BEFORE WE APPROVE THE LINE WOULD HELP.

I DO KNOW THE ONE. THE BIKE STATION AT THE PED BRIDGE IS ONE OF THE MOST USED IN THE AREA.

IT'S DEFINITELY THE MOST ON OUR SIDE OF THE RIVER, BUT IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR ONES IN THE METRO ARE THOSE OF ANY GEO FENCING THOSE BIKES, CAN THEY GO ANYWHERE? THEY GO ANYWHERE? YEAH.

WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION THEN ON THE BIKES AND PASS IT OVER TO YOU GUYS.

AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN AT THE NEXT MEETING. SOUNDS GOOD.

COOL. FANTASTIC. AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE MAYBE WE CAN ALL TAKE A RIDE ON ONE.

YEAH, SURE. THEY CAN FACILITATE THAT, BUT I SAY I RIDE LINES ALL THE TIME.

[01:35:05]

THAT'D BE GREAT TO GET IT DIRECTLY. OH, AND IF THERE'S AN INTEREST, I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE THEIR TIME IF WE WERE JUST.

ABSOLUTELY. NO, WE DON'T WANT. RIGHT. I THINK MORE INFORMATION IS BETTER FOR US TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION.

SO YEAH, I THINK IF LIAM COULD COME AND THEN GET THAT INFORMATION ON THE BIKES. YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY NO WITHOUT SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND ON THE SCOOTERS HEARTLAND ON THE BIKES. RIGHT.

BUT YOU SAID HEARTLAND IS GOING TO BENEFIT. YES.

CORRECT. YES. OKAY. YES. I'VE GOT SOME MONEY UNDER THE CURRENT FUNDING SCENARIO THAT THE SAME ONE THAT OMAHA USES, THEY SEE A PORTION OF THE REVENUE FROM THE RENTAL SCOOTERS GOES TO THE THE HEARTLAND BIKE SHARE.

TEN FOUR. AWESOME. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT REVIEW IS THE AGENDA.

SO WE HAVE AN EXEMPT SESSION AND EXECUTIVE TONY, CAN WE GO EXEMPT FIRST SO DANIELLE CAN HEAD OUT? WE STILL CAN'T. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. DANIELLE, I TRIED MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND, AND I NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM FIRST.

OKAY. BUT YOU WANT ME TO GO FIRST? OKAY.

[1) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. AND I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER TONIGHT.

[2) CALL TO ORDER]

SO AGAIN, THIS IS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THEY WISH TO ADDRESS TO THE COUNCIL OUTSIDE OF AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S ALREADY ON THE TONIGHT'S AGENDA. SO ANYTHING THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE AGENDA, DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON? OKAY. FIRST WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE NEED TO BREAK THIS UP INTO THREE DIFFERENT PARTS.

[4) CONSENT AGENDA]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WE GOT A ROLL CALL, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO, NOT THIS PART. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND THEN FOR ITEM FOUR C, CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL, MADAM CLERK,

[4.C) Resolution 26-86 Resolution setting a public hearing for March 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. for the East Manawa Sewer Rehab, Phase XIV. Project # PW26-09]

OKAY. JOE DISALVO, I STEVE GORMAN. I DUG THROUGH A.

I THINK THIS IS THE ONE YOU NEED TO ABSTAIN. OH, I'M SORRY, C YOUR ABSTAIN FOR EACH PANEL FOR C FOR C.

THIS IS EASTMAIL. YEP. IS THAT THE ONE YOU ABSTAINED ON? NO NO NO. ARBOR. WHICH NUMBER DO YOU NEED TO ABSTAIN ON IN THE CONSENT AGENDA? HARBOR CREEK E. SO IT'S EXCUSE ME, E IS COLLEGE ROAD.

IS THAT THE ONE YOU NEED TO ABSTAIN ON? YEAH.

IS THAT THE ONE? SORRY. ONE MOMENT PLEASE. HE IS COLLEGE ROAD AND RAILROAD AVENUE. C AND C IS THE ONE THAT YOU NEED TO ABSTAIN ON FROM THIS AFTERNOON IS WHAT YOU SAID.

OKAY. SO YOU NEED TO VOTE. ABSTAIN. ROGER. SANDAU A CALL BUTTON A

[4.F) Resolution 26-89 Resolution of intent and setting a public hearing for March 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to dispose of City-owned property legally described as Lots 1-6, East Manawa Subdivision.  Location: Southeast corner at the intersection of Mohawk Street and Comanche Street.]

SECOND. MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THIS ONE? STEVE GORMAN ABSTAIN. DUG THROUGH A ROGER SANDAU A CALL BUTTON.

A JO DISALVO A RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE A MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION.

WE DID ONE FOR PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH EARLIER TODAY IN THE STUDY SESSION.

[5.B) Red Cross Month ]

[01:40:03]

WHERE CAN'T WHEN CAN'T EXCUSE ME. WHEN CAN'T WAIT.

THIS COMPASSIONATE SPIRIT RUNS DEEP INTO OUR COMMUNITY, JUST AS IT HAS FOR 145 YEARS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

AND WHEREAS TODAY, THOSE WHO SERVE WITH THE OMAHA COUNCIL BLUFFS SOUTHWEST IOWA CHAPTER LIGHT THE WAY DURING EMERGENCIES.

WHETHER IT'S DELIVERING SHELTER, FOOD OR COMFORT AFTER DISASTERS, PROVIDING A SAFE, LIFE SAVING BLOOD SUPPLY FOR PATIENTS FACING CONDITIONS LIKE CANCER TREATMENT, CHILDBIRTH COMPLICATIONS AND TRAUMATIC INJURIES, ASSISTING MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH 24 OVER SEVEN GLOBAL SUPPORT OR EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SKILLS LIKE FIRST AID AND CPR THAT SAVE LIVES.

AND WHEREAS, THESE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS ARE POWERFUL REMINDERS THAT ARE.

STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY LIES IN THE SHARED COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER, WE.

AS WE MARK RED CROSS MONTH, LET US CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL HEROES AND RESOLVE TO CONTINUE LIFTING EACH OTHER SO NO ONE FACES AN EMERGENCY ALONE. NOW. THEREFORE, I, JILL SHUDAK, MAYOR OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH AS RED CROSS MONTH IN THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO REACH OUT AND SUPPORT THIS HUMANITARIAN MISSION.

THANK YOU. TERRY, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? SHE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? SHE WAS OUR CEO, SO.

I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT AND WE APPRECIATE BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN GET A PICTURE WITH THE COUNCIL. GREAT.

FANTASTIC. YES. I SEE ALL THE WORKFORCE FOR THE DOCUMENTS. I'M FROM CHICAGO.

I KNOW YOU. AWESOME. THAT'S A GOOD LOOKING PICTURE.

THANK YOU GUYS.

OKAY. AMANDA, DO YOU WANT TO SCROLL ON THE. ARE WE THERE? SO WE FIGURED IT OUT. DOUG HAS TO ABSTAIN FROM PUBLIC.

THE PUBLIC HEARING. SEE? NOT AGENDA. PUBLIC HEARING.

SEE? OKAY. DOUG FIGURED OUT. SO YOU ABSTAIN FOR NOTHING.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. WE'RE DEEP IN IT.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.

[6.A) Resolution 26-91 Resolution approving the plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimate for the City Hall Exterior Repairs. Project # BM-26-03]

YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVE? NONE RECEIVED.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? JUST THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY UPGRADES TO THIS BUILDING SINCE 2010 ON THE EXTERIOR.

SO WE WERE TOLD TODAY BY PUBLIC WORKS THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT NEED TAKEN CARE OF.

SO THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT TO GET DONE. ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES RESOLUTION 26 DASH 92, A RESOLUTION TO DISPOSE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS A SOUTH

[6.B) Resolution 26-92 Resolution to dispose of city owned property described as the South ½ of Lot 6, Block 13, Hall’s Addition.  Location: Immediately south of 522 North 9th Street. Case #26-0003-PZOTB]

YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OH. EXCUSE ME, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? LIKE THE INFO ON THIS? IT'S A GOOD, GOOD PROJECT TO HAVE DOWN THERE.

ABSOLUTELY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION APPROVED. REAL QUICK. THIS IS A HOUSE GOING TO BE BUILT ON A NONCONFORMING LOT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS FOR A VARIANCE.

[01:45:01]

THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED HOUSING.

SO GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS DEVELOPERS OUT THERE.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE ON, ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THERE'S, THERE'S MORE OF THESE TO BE HAD AND WE NEED THE HOUSING. SO. ABSOLUTELY.

[6.C) Resolution 26-93 Resolution granting final plat approval of a one-lot subdivision to be known as Iowa Western Community College Replat 1, being a Replat of Lots 1 through 14, Iowa Western Community College Subdivision, except that part of Lots 1 through 3 and Lots 5 through 7 deeded to the City of Council Bluffs for College Road right-of-way.  Location: 2700 College Road. Case #SUB-26-004]

EXCEPT THE PARTS OF LOTS ONE THROUGH THREE AND LOTS FIVE THROUGH SEVEN, DEEDED TO THE CITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS FOR THE COLLEGE ROAD.

RIGHT OF WAY LOCATION 2700 COLLEGE ROAD IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD.

YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM, SEEING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

MADAM CLERK, GET A ROLL CALL ON THIS ONE. JOE DISALVO I STEVE GORMAN I ABSTAIN.

ROGER. SANDAU I COLE BUTTON A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 26 DASH 94, A RESOLUTION DETERMINING AN AREA OF THE CITY

[6.D) Resolution 26-94 Resolution determining an area of the City to be a blighted area, and that the rehabilitation, conservation, redevelopment, development, or a combination thereof, of such area is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare of the residents of the City; designating such area as appropriate for urban renewal projects; and adopting the 2026 amendment to the West Broadway Urban Renewal Plan.  Location: Generally bounded by Indian Creek/South 13th Street on the east, Interstate 480 on the west, Avenue A on the north and 1st Avenue on the south. Case #URN-26-001]

THIS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE. YES IT IS.

ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OR. EXCUSE ME. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES RESOLUTION 26 DASH 95, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE

[6.E) Resolution 26-95 Resolution authorizing the sale of Lot 3, excluding SE corner, River's Edge Subdivision Replat One, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, to the Council Bluffs Community School District for the development of a Stem Innovation Charter High School. ]

COUNCIL BLUFFS, POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, IOWA, TO THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STEM INNOVATION CHARTER.

HIGH SCHOOL IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON RECORD.

YES IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? THREE RECEIVED.

OKAY. AND THOSE ARE IN THE PACKET, CORRECT? THEY SHOULD BE.

I THINK SO, YEAH. JODIE TOOK CARE OF. YES. OKAY, GREAT.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS TOPIC AT THIS TIME.

IF SO, PLEASE STAND FORWARD. AND WE'LL TURN THE MICROPHONE ON.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU'LL HAVE TEN MINUTES TO SPEAK.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JARED TRIP, 15 SCARLET OAKS LANE, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. I WANT TO BEGIN BY ADDRESSING SOMETHING DIRECTLY BECAUSE CLARITY DOES MATTER IN DECISIONS LIKE THIS.

SCHOOL SYSTEMS EXIST TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES.

AS SUCH, GOALS AT THE GOVERNANCE LEVEL ARE ABOUT THE NEXT STEP.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL TAKE IN THE DIRECTION OF IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES.

SCHOOL BOARDS SET LONG TERM DIRECTION APPROVED TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS AND ENSURE STABILITY THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS.

I EMPHASIZE THIS TO REMOVE ANY CONFUSION AND ALIGN EVERYONE ON THE POINT THAT THIS STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE ELECTED GOVERNING BODY OF THE DISTRICT, NOT THE VISION OF A SINGLE ADMINISTRATOR, AND IS NOT DEPENDENT ON ONE INDIVIDUAL.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE LEAVING THE DISTRICT AT THE END OF JUNE.

THAT TRANSITION IS IMPORTANT, BUT THIS PROJECT IS NOT AT RISK BECAUSE OF IT.

THE BOARD IS ACTIVELY PREPARING FOR THE SEARCH, AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IS FULLY COMMITTED TO ADVANCING STEM EDUCATION AND SEEING THE STEM AND STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL BECOME A REALITY.

THE WORK WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO IT AND OUR ADMINISTRATION, BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE, FULLY SUPPORTS IT. THIS IS A LONG TERM INVESTMENT, NOT A SHORT TERM INITIATIVE.

NOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LAND ITSELF. THE PROPERTY UNDER CONSIDERATION IS ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE AND MEANINGFUL SITES THE CITY OWNS.

[01:50:03]

A PLACE PEOPLE NOTICE. A PLACE THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY IT MATTERS. PLACING A STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL ON THIS SITE SENDS A MESSAGE THAT REACHES FAR BEYOND OUR STUDENTS.

IT TELLS FAMILIES, EMPLOYERS AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES THAT COUNCIL BLUFFS BELIEVES THAT EDUCATION IS WORTH SHOWCASING.

THAT INNOVATION BELONGS AT THE CENTER OF THE VISIBLE GATEWAY TO OUR CITY, NOT HIDDEN.

THIS WOULD NOT JUST BE A ONE OF A KIND SCHOOL, IT WOULD BE A SYMBOL, A DAILY REMINDER THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, SKILLED TRADESPEOPLE, AND PROBLEM SOLVERS RIGHT HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THIS LOCATION ALSO ALSO STRENGTHENS THE CITY ITSELF.

A SCHOOL HERE BRINGS PEOPLE INTO THE AREA EVERY DAY.

IT INCREASES FOOT TRAFFIC, SUPPORTS SURROUNDING ACTIVITY AND CONTRIBUTES TO LONG TERM PROPERTY VALUES.

IT ALLOWS THE SPACE TO BE USED IN A CIVIC MINDED WAY THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT, THE SETTING BECOMES PART OF THE LEARNING.

I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING.

THIS IS A TRUE STEM PLAYGROUND WHERE HANDS ON LEARNING, COLLABORATION AND REAL WORLD PROBLEM SOLVING CAN THRIVE.

STUDENTS WON'T JUST STUDY INNOVATION, THEY'LL EXPERIENCE IT.

IF THIS BUILDING IS PLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE AWAY FROM THE MOST VISIBLE SPACES, IT LOSES THAT POWER.

IT BECOMES JUST ANOTHER BUILDING SOMEWHERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

YOUSSEFAL. YES, 100% STILL HAVE THE EXACT SAME USE, HOWEVER, NO LONGER SERVING AS A VISIBLE SYMBOL OF HOW MUCH WE VALUE EDUCATION IN THIS COMMUNITY. NO LONGER A STRATEGICALLY PLACED STATEMENT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE GOING.

TONIGHT'S DECISION IS MORE THAN JUST A PROPERTY TRANSACTION.

IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE CHOOSE TO MAKE EDUCATION VISIBLE.

WHETHER WE CHOOSE TO LEAD, AND WHETHER WE CHOOSE TO LEAVE SOMETHING LASTING BEHIND.

WHEN PEOPLE LOOK ACROSS THE RIVER, THEY WON'T JUST SEE BUILDINGS.

THEY'LL SEE A CITY INVESTING IN ITS FUTURE. MY REQUEST IS SIMPLE.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF SELLING THE PROPERTY TO THE COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOL DISTRICT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING A ONE OF A KIND STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL THAT REFLECTS THE PRIDE, AMBITION AND FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU JARED. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? HELLO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL NORTON. 310 KALIHI CIRCLE.

AND I'M THE PRINCIPAL OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL.

OVER THE PAST 26 YEARS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS A TEACHER, COACH AND PRINCIPAL. I ALSO SPEAK TONIGHT AS A PARENT OF FOUR STUDENTS FOR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE, I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT PATHWAYS DURING HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, MY DAUGHTER HAS ATTENDED THE EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY AT IOWA WESTERN AND THIS MAY, SHE WILL GRADUATE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN SCIENCE.

HAVING ACCESS TO PROGRAMING THAT MATCHED HER INTERESTS ALLOWED HER TO THRIVE AND ACCELERATE HER OPPORTUNITIES DURING HIGH SCHOOL AND AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

DURING MY TIME AS AN EDUCATOR, I'VE SEEN THE STRONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND THE PARTNERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THESE HIGH IMPACT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROPOSED STEM HIGH SCHOOL ON THE RIVERFRONT REPRESENTS ANOTHER POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COLLABORATION TO CONTINUE. A STEM HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTS INNOVATION, OPPORTUNITY AND A COMMITMENT TO PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION FOR HIGH SKILL, HIGH DEMAND CAREERS. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE RIVERFRONT IS WHERE THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE.

ITS VISIBILITY AND CENTRAL LOCATION WILL HELP ATTRACT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE SEEKING INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THE METRO AREA.

THE RIVERFRONT IS ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE LOCATIONS IN OUR CITY.

PLACING A STEM HIGH SCHOOL THERE WOULD SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY AND THAT WE PRIORITIZE EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

A RIVERFRONT LOCATION ALSO CREATES OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

ITS PROXIMITY TO THE METRO AREA MAKES IT EASIER TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS,

[01:55:05]

THIS LOCATION WOULD ALSO GIVE STUDENTS GREATER ACCESS TO THE METRO AREA EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE THEIR LEARNING.

INTERNSHIPS, FIELD EXPERIENCES, AND COLLABORATION WITH BUSINESSES THAT ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR AREA.

BY PLACING THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL ON THE RIVERFRONT, WE ARE NOT ONLY BUILDING A SCHOOL, WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS PROUD TO INVEST IN ITS STUDENTS AND WILLING TO PLACE THEIR FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT LOCATING THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL ON THE RIVERFRONT.

THEREFORE, INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THE METRO AREA STUDENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. NORTON. MELISSA KOMINE 17208 LARAMORE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR SHUDAK AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

AS THE CHIEF OF SCHOOLS FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH 12 AND THE COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOLS, I AM HERE TO RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE SALE OF THE RIVER'S EDGE PROPERTY FOR THE PROPOSED STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL. THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT LAND.

IT IS ABOUT A CHOICE, A CHOICE TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR WORKFORCE, AND THE COMPETITIVENESS OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY $35 MILLION IN INVESTMENT.

AND HERE'S THE KEY POINT. THESE DOLLARS ARE NOT COMING FROM CITY TAXPAYERS.

THEY COME FROM PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT BELIEVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS FUTURE.

FOR NEARLY A DECADE, THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BUILT A CLEAR VISION AND CULTURE THAT IS NOW WELL ESTABLISHED.

EVERY STUDENT GRADUATES WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND A SECOND CREDENTIAL, MAKING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INESCAPABLE.

OPENING DOORS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER FOR ALL STUDENTS.

THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. 91% OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 25, EARNED BOTH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND A SECOND CREDENTIAL.

EVEN MORE ENCOURAGING, MORE STUDENTS ARE ON TRACK THIS YEAR TO EARN A CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA OR DEGREE FROM IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL THAN IN LAST YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS.

THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS MODEL IS WORKING AND IT IS GROWING.

THIS WORK HAS ALSO GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION.

COUNCIL BLUFFS APPROACH WAS RECENTLY FEATURED AS AN ENTIRE CHAPTER IN THE BOOK STEM CENTURY.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A 21ST CENTURY GRADUATE.

PUBLISHED BY A S A IN FEBRUARY OF 2026. THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION.

THE BOOK BECAME AN AMAZON BESTSELLER IN MULTIPLE EDUCATION CATEGORIES, HIGHLIGHTING OUR CITY AS AN EXAMPLE OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR 21ST CENTURY CAREERS. THE PROPOSED STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL IS A NATURAL NEXT STEP.

STUDENTS WILL HAVE PATHWAYS IN ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND TECH PROGRAMS DIRECTLY CONNECTING TO COLLEGE AND HIGH DEMAND CAREERS.

THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ATTRACT EMPLOYERS, STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE, AND POSITION OUR CITY FOR SUCCESS.

HAVING THIS UNIQUE INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL ADD TO THE ROBUST STEM OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY IN OUR DISTRICT. CURRENTLY, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN STEM.

THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDES A UNIQUE SETTING FOR MORE PROJECT BASED LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS AND WORK EXPERIENCES.

THIS SCHOOL IS MORE ABOUT. PREPARING IS MORE THAN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR FIRST JOB.

IT HELPS ENSURE COUNCIL BLUFFS IS A FUTURE READY COMMUNITY.

CITIES THAT INVEST IN STEM EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE PIPELINES TODAY ARE THE ONES THAT ATTRACT EMPLOYERS.

INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW. BUT THE MODEL ONLY WORKS IF THE SCHOOL IS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE REGION.

THAT IS WHY THE RIVER'S EDGE LOCATION MATTERS.

THIS SITE ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THE BROADER METRO AREA, INCLUDING OMAHA FAMILIES AND PARTNERS, TO PARTICIPATE. REGIONAL ACCESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ENROLLMENT, PARTICIPATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING EXPERIENCES. LOCATION ALSO MATTERS FOR PHILANTHROPY.

PEOPLE WILL NOT DONATE DOLLARS TO BUILD A SCHOOL IF IT'S SOMEWHERE ELSE.

DONORS AND REGIONAL PARTNERS INVEST IN A VISIBLE, ACCESSIBLE PROJECT THAT IS POSITIONED FOR SUCCESS.

RIVER'S EDGE GIVES THEM THAT CONFIDENCE. MOVE THE SCHOOL AND FUNDRAISING BECOMES FAR MORE DIFFICULT.

[02:00:05]

IT IS WORTH NOTING THE NEIGHBORING OFFICE BUILDING HAS NOT REACHED FULL CAPACITY.

PROMISES OF COMMERCIAL GROWTH HAVE EXISTED FOR YEARS.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A REAL. $35 MILLION INVESTMENT READY NOW.

THIS PROJECT ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THE BLUFFS TOMORROW 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR STRONGER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.

FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP THAT MADE THIS VISION POSSIBLE.

THE DISTRICT'S EXECUTIVE CABINET IS EXPERIENCED, STRATEGIC AND READY.

THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LED THE DISTRICT FOR NEARLY A DECADE AND ARE PREPARED TO BRING THIS SCHOOL TO LIFE AND ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL OPENING.

TONIGHT'S DECISION IS MORE THAN LAND. IT IS ABOUT WHETHER COUNCIL BLUFFS CHOOSES A TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL COLLABORATION.

COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE COMPETING FOR EXACTLY THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE RIVER'S EDGE SITE AND ALLOW THE STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS COLEMAN.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MAYOR SHUDAK.

MY NAME IS RYAN HIGGINS. AT 331 SOUTH EIGHTH STREET.

I SPENT THE LAST 25 YEARS TEACHING STEM EDUCATION.

17 OF THOSE HERE IN THE COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE USE THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY CURRICULUM, WHICH IS THE, THE NATION'S TOP STEM PROJECT BASED LEARNING PROGRAM.

I'VE BEEN A MASTER TEACHER FOR PROJECT LEAD THE WAY FOR 15 YEARS, AND THAT HAS ALLOWED ME ACCESS TO SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP STEM FACILITIES.

I GET TO GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY EACH SUMMER AND SEE SOME OF THE BEST THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

I'VE ALSO BEEN HONORED OVER THE YEARS WITH NUMEROUS TEACHING AWARDS AND BUT I DON'T MENTION THAT TO TO BRAG, BUT TO, TO KIND OF BRING UP THE POINT THAT I.

HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COMMUNITIES INVEST IN EDUCATION AND PARTICULARLY STEM EDUCATION.

AND THEN I ALSO HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T.

AND SO I WOULD URGE THE APPROVAL OF THIS SALE FOR THAT REASON ALONE.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN JUST A PLOT OF LAND ON THE RIVERFRONT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE FRONT PORCH OF OUR CITY'S FUTURE.

SO FOR YEARS A LOT OF OUR BRIGHTEST STUDENTS HAVE HAD TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR INSPIRATION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT.

THEY GO TO OTHER BIG CITIES, THEY GO TO THE COASTS.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T, WE DON'T KEEP THEM HERE.

BUT KEEPING BUT A BUILDING LIKE THIS, A SCHOOL LIKE THIS THAT IS CENTERED RIGHT IN THE HEART OF, OF THE METRO, CAN CHANGE THINGS LIKE THAT. WE CAN TELL THE KIDS THAT THE FUTURE IS BEING BUILT RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

REGARDING THE TAX REVENUE CONCERN, I GUESS I'M ALSO A TAXPAYER, SO I I DO VALUE THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT AS AN EDUCATOR AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, I'VE SENT FOR GRADUATES THROUGH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOLS WITH THREE MORE TO GO.

SO I AM HEAVILY INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT THRIVE.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT IS OR THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS FOR THIS PAST THE TAX REVENUE.

OKAY. SO A VACANT LOT IS A STANDARD OR A STANDARD COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES A TAX CHECK, BUT THIS SCHOOL PROVIDES A WORKFORCE PIPELINE.

WHEN WE AND COUNCIL BLUFFS PARTNER WITH THE OMAHA PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, PARTNERSHIPS THAT REQUIRE THIS CENTRAL, ACCESSIBLE LOCATION.

WE AREN'T JUST SPENDING MONEY. WE'RE INCUBATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS, TECH FOUNDERS AND SKILLED PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL BUY HOMES HERE, START BUSINESSES HERE AND GROW OUR TAX BASE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE BRINGING ENGINEERS INTO MY CLASSROOM FROM COMPANIES LIKE UNION PACIFIC, HDR ARCHITECTS FROM APMA. BUT TEACHING IN THE HEART OF THE METRO WILL OPEN UP SO MANY MORE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

SO TO SECURE THE FUNDING AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE THE SCHOOL LIKE THIS WORLD CLASS, WE NEED A SITE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND PRESTIGIOUS.

SO TOP TIER, A TOP TIER STEM EDUCATION DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.

IT HAPPENS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT OF ALL THOSE INTERESTED PARTIES.

SO BEING ON THE RIVERFRONT PUTS OUR STUDENTS ON THE CITY'S PULSE AND MAKES THE SCHOOL A HUB WHERE INDUSTRY LEADERS CAN EASILY MENTOR STUDENTS AND WHERE EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE, CAN ACCESS A PREMIER EDUCATION.

[02:05:04]

YOU KNOW, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK ABOUT ARCHITECTURE WITH MY STUDENTS.

AS WE LOOK ACROSS AT A SKYSCRAPER BEING BUILT, YOU KNOW.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT BRINGING YOUR CONTENT TO LIFE.

THAT'S, THAT'S A ABSOLUTELY PERFECT SPOT FOR THAT.

SO IN MY 25 YEARS, I'VE LEARNED THAT STUDENTS WILL ALMOST ALWAYS RISE TO THE LEVEL OF EXPECTATIONS WE SET FOR THEM.

IF WE GIVE THEM A WORLD CLASS FACILITY IN THE HEART OF THE METRO, THEY WILL BECOME WORLD CLASS CITIZENS.

I'M ASKING YOU TO SEE THIS LAND NOT AS A LOST TAX OPPORTUNITY, BUT AS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR HUMAN CAPITAL THAT WE COULD EVER MAKE WITH THIS LAND. SO LET'S BUILD SOMETHING ON THAT RIVERFRONT THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

WHEN MY STUDENTS, WHO ARE SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT, ARE SITTING IN YOUR CHAIRS.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING. THANK YOU, MR. HIGGINS.

MY NAME IS MATTHEW OCHSNER AND I LIVE AT 21101 HILLSBORO LANE SOUTH.

KIM ROBISHAW 19699 BIRDSEY ROAD. WE ARE STUDENTS FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL AND HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE WITH LEARNING THROUGH PROJECT WITH OUR DISTRICTS. I'VE LEARNED THROUGH MANY PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH MY ROBOTICS AND ENGINEERING.

ONE OF MY MOST NOTABLE ONES THAT I SPENT LAST SEMESTER OR LAST YEAR DOING WAS A GREENHOUSE PROJECT THAT INTEGRATED BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER.

THIS THIS PROJECT WAS OUTSIDE OF OUR TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM AND PROVIDED TO US BY RYAN HIGGINS, AND IT LASTED SEVERAL MONTHS, EVEN INTO THE SUMMER, WHICH WAS A BIG PROJECT FOR US, REALLY.

I DESIGNED, BUILT AND PROGRAMED THIS PROJECT START TO FINISH ON MY OWN.

THIS WAS WITHOUT FOLLOWING A STRUCTURED GUIDELINE WITH ASSEMBLY AND PROGRAMING AND ALL THAT.

I WAS ABLE TO ADVANCE MY KNOWLEDGE WITH THESE DESIGN PROJECTS.

DESIGN PROCESSES. WITH THIS PROJECT, I EXPANDED MY SKILL IN CAD ELECTRONICS AND PROGRAMING BECAUSE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

ALSO, FROM MY TIME IN ROBOTICS, I WAS BROUGHT ONTO A FOOD DELIVERY PROJECT THAT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON.

WORKING ON THIS PROJECT IN THE SCHOOL CAN SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF HOW CROWDED SOME OF THE PLACES CAN BE WHEN TRYING TO DO STUFF.

AND I THINK THE SPACE THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS LAND WOULD GIVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US WITH PROGRAMING AND DEVELOPING THIS ROBOT, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES TENS OF FEET IN LARGE OPEN SPACES FOR US TO DO.

EVEN THOUGH I WOULDN'T BE THE ONE TO SEE THE SCHOOL, I WANT TO SEE OTHERS YOUNGER THAN ME, INCLUDING MY LITTLE BROTHER, HAVE THESE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD COME WITH THIS LAND. AGAIN, MY NAME IS MATTHEW OCHSNER, AND WHEN I FIRST BECAME A FRESHMAN AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD A RATHER LOW DRIVE FOR EDUCATION AND LEARNING.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL EARLY IN MY SOPHOMORE YEAR WHEN MY BEST FRIEND ENCOURAGED ME TO JOIN AN EXTRACURRICULAR CALLED ROBOTICS.

AND SINCE THEN, I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AFTER SCHOOL EVERY WEEK POURING A BUNCH OF WORK INTO THIS EXTRACURRICULAR.

AND IT HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH MORE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER LEARNED IN ANY OTHER SETTING.

I LEARNED A DEEP AMOUNT ABOUT PROGRAMING, AND I DEVELOPED A TRUE LOVE AND PASSION FOR MATHEMATICS THAT I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE DEVELOPED OTHERWISE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT HAD THIS SCHOOL EXISTED WHEN I WAS WHEN I IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS STEM SCHOOL EXISTED WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN, THAT I BELIEVE I COULD HAVE TAKEN MY EDUCATION SO MUCH FURTHER, AND I BELIEVE I COULD HAVE TRULY EXPLORED MY LOVE AND PASSION FOR PROGRAMING AND MATHEMATICS THAT I'M ONLY NOW GETTING THE CHANCE TO.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE PROJECT BASED LEARNING IS TRULY WAS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO LEARN, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE EXISTING CLASSES THAT THE EXISTING STEM CLASSES THAT EXIST IN THE DISTRICT IS SORT OF BUILT ON TOP OF WHAT ALREADY EXISTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, I TAKE AN FAA DRONE CLASS AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THERE'S NOT EXACTLY THE PERFECT SPACE FOR US TO FLY DRONES AND DO EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT CLASS. BUT WITH THE STEM SCHOOL, THE LAND THAT AND THE AREA, THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE BUILT AROUND THE NEEDS OF THESE CLASSES WHERE THE WE COULD THERE WOULD BE LAND OF FLY DRONES OR PROGRAM AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS.

AND I BELIEVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IT CAN ONLY SERVE TO BENEFIT THEM.

SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE APPROVE THE SALE OF THE RIVERSIDE PROPERTY FOR THE COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

[02:10:04]

TROY ARTHUR, 25 SNYDER AVENUE, JUST UP THE WAY.

FOR 12 YEARS I SERVED AS THE. I SERVED ON THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOARD.

I WAS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT MULTIPLE TIMES.

FOR THE PAST DECADE, I'VE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN ACTUALLY BUILDING STEM EDUCATION AND ROBOTICS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE STARTED OUR NONPROFIT IN 2016 FOCUSED ON EXPANDING STEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH POVERTY AREAS, WHICH STARTED IN THE WEST END. COUNCIL BLUFFS. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL SKILLS ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO BREAK INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AND CYCLES OF POVERTY THROUGH ROBOTICS PROGRAMS AND STEM INITIATIVES.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AT COUNCIL BLUFFS IN THAT TIME. I'VE WATCHED STUDENTS WHO DISCOVERED ENGINEERING AND PROGRAMING YOU KNOW, AND A LOVE FOR THAT AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS THAT MANY OF THEM NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF LEARNING WITHOUT DIRECT EXPOSURE.

AND SOME OF OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND CLUBS, WE'VE EXPANDED TO HAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMING NOW FOR ROBOTICS IN EVERY ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. IN FACT, IN THAT TIME AND ALL THAT WAS DESIGNED TO HELP SUPPORT THE HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAD HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS OF OF PROGRAMS, BUT THERE WAS REALLY NO LIKE PIPELINE TO GET KIDS INTO THERE TO MAKE THAT EXCEL.

I'VE SEEN WHERE THOSE SKILLS TAKE STUDENTS SOME GO ON TO ENGINEERING PROGRAMS SOME INTO ADVANCED TRADES, OTHERS INTO JUST TECHNOLOGICAL CAREERS. WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD TWO RECENT STUDENTS OR THREE STUDENTS.

TWO GOT THE QUALIFIED AT THIRD AT THE SKILLS USA WITH I BELIEVE IT WAS URBAN ROBOTICS AND URBAN RESCUE.

WAS, WAS WHAT THEY QUALIFIED ON. THERE WAS A STUDENT OF OURS WHO IS A YEAR OUT OF SCHOOL QUALIFIED.

HE ACTUALLY WON FOR STATE OF IOWA FOR COMPUTERIZED DRAFTING AND IS GOING TO REPRESENT IOWA AND ATLANTA.

MANY OF THESE STUDENTS DO LEAVE THE DISTRICT OR THEY LEAVE THE CITY AND THEY MOVE ON.

BUT THERE ARE MANY WHO STAY HERE AND THEY BUILD THEIR FUTURES RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I UNDERSTAND THE DECISIONS ABOUT CITY LAND ARE NOT SIMPLE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER LONG TERM VALUE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIVERFRONT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE HAD ALL THESE PLANS IN PLACE NOW FOR WHAT, ABOUT 20 YEARS OR MAYBE ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY. AND TAXPAYERS DOLLARS MATTER.

YOU KNOW, BUT THERE'S SO MANY OF US WHO ARE SPENDING DOLLARS RIGHT NOW TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS.

YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY SPENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THIS NONPROFIT OVER TIME TRYING TO PUSH KIDS INTO STEM RELATED FIELDS.

WHEN THEY GO INTO HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY CAN HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AFTER, AFTER, AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT SOMETIMES THE MOST VALUABLE INVESTMENT A CITY CAN MAKE IS NOT SIMPLY IN BUILDINGS OR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, RIGHT? IT'S IN PEOPLE. A STEM FOCUSED HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT JUST ANOTHER SCHOOL BUILDING.

IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE WORKFORCE THAT OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY INCREASINGLY DEPENDS ON.

ACROSS THE OMAHA, METRO INDUSTRIES ARE GROWING THAT RELY ON ENGINEERING, AUTOMATION, DATA, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY. EMPLOYERS CONSISTENTLY SAY THE SAME THING THEY NEED MORE SKILLED TALENT.

A STEM HIGH SCHOOL HELPS ENSURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF THAT TALENT IS DEVELOPED RIGHT HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS. THE CITY HAS INVESTED YEARS OF EFFORT INTO TRANSFORMING THE RIVERFRONT, AND THAT SHOULD BE APPLAUDED, RIGHT? AND NONE OF THAT ORIGINAL PLAN SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN. AND WE HAVE SEEN REAL PROGRESS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT LARGE REDEVELOPMENT VISIONS TAKE TIME TO FULLY MATERIALIZE.

AND THERE IS STILL SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY AHEAD FOR THAT AREA. REMEMBER WHEN WE CALLED THAT THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE? HOWEVER, BEFORE ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS HELP CREATE MOMENTUM, A STEM HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BRING DAILY ACTIVITY TO THE AREA.

IT BRINGS STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, EVENTS, GREATER PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS, AND REAL CONNECTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IN MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EDUCATION AND INNOVATION CAMPUSES HAVE BECOME EXACTLY THE KIND OF ANCHORS THAT ATTRACT FUTURE INVESTMENT AROUND THEM. INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR REDEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN THROUGH THESE PROJECTS, THIS PROJECT HELPS CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT SPUR GREATER DEVELOPMENT.

OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW STEM EDUCATION TRANSFORMS STUDENTS.

I'VE SEEN STUDENTS WHO ONCE DOUBTED THEMSELVES, DESIGNED ROBOTS, WRITE CODE, SOLVE ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, AND LEAD TEAMS. WHAT THEY GAIN IS NOT JUST TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE.

THEY GAIN CONFIDENCE. THEY GAIN PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

THEY GAIN THE BELIEF THAT THEY CAN SHAPE THEIR FUTURE. THEY GAIN THE ABILITY TO WORK AS TEAM MEMBERS AND TO LEAD PROJECTS.

[02:15:04]

COUNCIL BLUFFS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POSITION ITSELF AS A REGIONAL LEADER IN STEM EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP ATTRACTS FAMILIES. IT SUPPORTS EMPLOYERS AND STRENGTHENS THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE CITY.

FOR THOSE REASONS, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE, BECAUSE INVESTING IN A STEM HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT SIMPLY AN INVESTMENT IN A BUILDING, IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.

TALENT, INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ARTHUR. YEAH.

JOHN NELSON, 344 KENMORE AVENUE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I THINK I ECHO, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE REPETITIVE, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MORE ELOQUENT THAN MINE THAT PRECEDED ME, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO. I WAS THE ORIGINAL PRESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING BOARD OF IOWA WEST AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND SOMETHING THAT MAY BE LOST IN THE DISCUSSION.

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IS THAT IOWA WEST ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE OLD BAYLISS PARK AND GAVE IT TO THE CITY FOR FREE.

THEN THE CITY SOLD THAT GROUND. LATER, THEY SOLD THAT GROUND TO A DEVELOPER.

THE DEVELOPER WASN'T ABLE TO DO IT, AND HE WAS GOING TO TURN AROUND AND WE BOUGHT IT BACK AGAIN AND GAVE IT TO THE CITY.

SO TWICE I WAS PAID FOR THAT GROUND. AND YOU RECEIVED IT AT NO COST.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT. WHEN YOU MAKE THIS CONSIDERATION.

SO I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE, THE GROUND THAT YOU'RE DEBATING IS ALL GROUND THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY. SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE OCCUPANCY OF THE OFFICE BUILDING, AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER OFFICE BUILDING OR A CONDOMINIUM PROJECT.

I KNOW I WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED TO BUY A CONDO IN THE CONDO PROJECT.

THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO GET MORE THAN 30% SOLD, SO THEY COULD NOT GET FINANCING FOR THE CONDO PROJECT.

THE IDEA THAT ANOTHER OFFICE BUILDING WOULD BE BUILT THERE WHEN RENTS ARE FAR AND ABOVE HIGHER THAN WHAT ARE BEING PAID IN THE CITY IS HIGHLY PROBABLE AND DOUBTFUL. SO I, I THINK IF YOU WANT TO DO ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT THERE IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY. I CAN'T IMAGINE RETAIL.

POSSIBLY MORE APARTMENT BUILDINGS, BUT THAT WOULD BE ABOUT IT.

AND LIKELY IT WOULD REQUIRE A TIFF. SOMETIMES MAYBE 15, 20 YEAR TIFF TO GET ANY DEVELOPMENT THERE TO START WITH, WHICH MEANS IT WOULDN'T BE A TAXPAYER TO START WITH.

SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO THIS PROJECT THAT YOU LET THE SCHOOLS BUILD ON THIS GROUND.

THERE'S PLENTY OF GROUND ALONG THE RIVERFRONT SOUTH DOWN WHERE THE GOLF COURSE IS THAT'S NOT PAYING TAXES THAT COULD BE USED TO PUT DEVELOPMENT UP IF SOME WOULD COME FROM ADDITIONAL OFFICE BUILDINGS AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU VOTE FOR THIS TRANSFER.

THANK YOU, MR. NELSON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS HANNAH SMITH. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AT TRIVIUM LIFE SERVICES.

I ALSO OVERSEE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING.

WE ARE HEADQUARTERED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AT THE RIVER'S EDGE.

THAT'S WHERE OUR ORGANIZATION CALLS HOME. ALTHOUGH WE'VE EXPANDED TO NEW ENGLAND AND TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST.

I'M HERE TONIGHT ALONG WITH BRAD SCHROEDER, TRIVIUM'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT 4201 RIVER'S EDGE PARKWAY.

WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT AND ECHO MANY OF THE COMMENTS MADE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT AND SPECIFICALLY THE SITE.

AS MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOR AND NEIGHBORS TO THE PROPOSED SCHOOL, WE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS A POWERFUL INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

WE SUPPORT THIS FOR THREE KEY REASONS. BRAD. FIRST, AS A WORKFORCE PIPELINE, A STEM FOCUSED HIGH SCHOOL WILL HELP DEVELOP THE SKILLED WORKFORCE THAT OUR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS INCREASINGLY NEED AND WILL STRENGTHEN THE PIPELINE BETWEEN EDUCATION, LOCAL INDUSTRY AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

WE'RE ALREADY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE POTENTIAL OF COLLABORATION THAT COULD OCCUR FROM HAVING THESE TALENTED STUDENTS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.

[02:20:02]

WITH BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE STRONG PROPONENTS OF THIS.

THE SITE, BECAUSE IT IS A VISIBLE, ACCESSIBLE SITE, IT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND, IMPORTANTLY, REGIONAL FUNDERS.

IT ALSO SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO ANYONE OVERLOOKING THE RIVERFRONT, CROSSING INTO IOWA ON 480 OR VIEWING OUR CITY FROM THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.

THE COUNCIL BLUFFS IS A FORWARD THINKING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND FINALLY, THE LONG TERM COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROJECTS LIKE THIS HELP TO ENSURE THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, SO THEY CHOOSE TO STAY HERE, TO WORK HERE, RAISE FAMILIES HERE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUED VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AGAIN, AS A MAJOR EMPLOYER OF TALENT IN THE COUNCIL BLUFFS AREA, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO THINK OF THE GROWING EMPLOYMENT BASE THAT THIS COULD PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR THE FUTURE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE BOTH OF YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR SHUDAK AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DIANE OSTROWSKI, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU A LETTER THAT WAS DELIVERED TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT FROM SHANE HAAS, WHO'S A COUNCIL BLUFFS SCHOOL DISTRICT ALUMNUS AND MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

PRESENTING THIS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? GO AHEAD AND GRAB IT.

THANKS. THANK YOU. DIANE. I CAN READ THAT OUT LOUD WHEN WE GET TO THE END.

THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS TALLY WASHBURN. I LIVE AT 439 GLEN AVENUE.

I WANTED TO SAY IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF THE EDUCATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE TWO STUDENTS WHO WERE SO WELL SPOKEN. I THINK IT SPEAKS REALLY HIGHLY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THE PREMIUM THAT THE COMMUNITY PUTS ON EDUCATION.

BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT SUPPORTIVE OF TURNING OVER THE RIVER'S EDGE PROPERTY TO A NONPROFIT USE.

THERE IS A VIABLE PROPOSAL THAT THE CITY UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO NOVEMBER WAS SHARED A PROPOSAL BY A DEVELOPER SIERRA HOLLAND WHO OUR REGIONAL DEVELOPER WITH OVER $1 BILLION IN ASSETS THAT THEY CURRENTLY MANAGE PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL AND HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE STATE TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER THE FULL ADDITIONAL FUNDING PACKAGE THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY, BUT THEY DO BRING THEIR OWN FINANCING.

AND THAT PROPOSAL WAS FOR A MARKET RATE APARTMENT BUILDING THAT WOULD INCLUDE A 2000 SQUARE FOOT GROCERY AND A 5000 SQUARE FOOT RESTAURANT.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE POSSIBLE FROM THAT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS $200 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS.

SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A GIFT OF $35,000 TO THE PEOPLE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESENTING THEM WITH A $165 MILLION TAX BILL THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT FROM.

IF THIS GOES TO ANY NONPROFIT USE THIS IS THIS IS THE MOST DESIRABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY ON THE RIVERFRONT AND ARGUABLY THE MOST ECONOMICALLY DESIRABLE GEM IN THE STATE OF IOWA TODAY.

JUST TWO YEARS AGO, OUR NEIGHBOR IN OUR COMBINED STATISTICAL AREA, OUR COUNCIL BLUFFS OMAHA COMBINED STATISTICAL AREA, WAS NAMED THE BEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO MOVE TO.

AND WE HAVE YET TO CAPTURE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FROM BEING TETHERED TO THEM BY OUR SHARED RIVERFRONT.

WE CAN STAND ON OUR SIDE OF THE RIVER AND WE CAN SEE THE LUXURY APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT THEY HAVE OVER ON THEIR SIDE OF THE RIVER.

THOSE UNITS ARE SELLING SOME OF THEM FOR UPWARDS OF $1 MILLION APIECE.

WE CAN SEE THE MUSEUM THAT THEY BUILT, WHICH.

YES, THAT IS A NONPROFIT, BUT IT'S CHARGING ADMISSION AND GENERATING TAXES.

WE CAN SEE THE ADDITIONS THAT THEY'RE DOING TO THEIR C H I ARENA OVER THERE, AGAIN, GENERATING A TREMENDOUS TAX REVENUE AND TAX BASE FOR THEIR

[02:25:01]

I AGREE, A HIGH SCHOOL ON THE RIVERFRONT WILL BE A PLAYGROUND FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

I MEAN, AS IT SHOULD BE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CO-LOCATE A SCHOOL IN FRONT OF A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THEN TELL THE KIDS THEY CAN'T PLAY ON IT, BUT WHAT ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE ON THE RIVERFRONT? I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE TENANT OF THE CLASS A OFFICE SPACE WHO WANTED TO OCCUPY THE ENTIRE GROUND FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING.

WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD OCCUPY ABOUT 4/5 OF IT.

HEARD THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL MIGHT BE MOVING IN NEXT DOOR AND PUT A PIN IN IT AND SAID, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING IN OVER THERE FIRST BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

THEY WERE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING A MARKET RATE APARTMENT BUILDING.

I ALSO AGREE THAT IT'S GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF OMAHA AND THE ENTIRE REGION ABOUT WHAT WE ARE, AND THAT IS THAT IS IF A HIGH SCHOOL GOES THERE CLOSED 75% OF THE TIME, THERE WILL BE NO ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 OR 5 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NOTHING ON WEEKENDS, NOTHING IN THE SUMMER, NOTHING.

OVER HOLIDAYS. HAS ANYBODY NOBODY HAS REALLY ADDRESSED HERE TODAY THE TRAFFIC ISSUES.

SO THE SCHOOL WAS OFFERED BY MAYOR WALSH VERY EARLY ON, LIKE EARLY DAYS WAS OFFERED.

I KNOW IT WAS EARLY DAYS BECAUSE I CALLED THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FOR THE CITY AND I ACTUALLY CALLED MAYOR WALSH'S OFFICE AND HE WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN THE APARTMENT BUILDING.

I CALLED, WE TALKED WITH BRANDON GARRETT, AND THEY ARRANGED A MEETING FOR US WITH COURTNEY CARTER, WHO SAID LITERALLY, LITERALLY THE SCHOOL WAS HERE ONE DAY BEFORE YOU.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO LET THEM DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FIRST, WHICH CAUSED THE MAYOR AND A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO I WON'T POINT OUT BY NAMES, JAWS TO HIT THE TABLE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE WERE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH TRYING TO EXPLORE BRINGING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE AREA.

BUT THE APARTMENT BUILDING CONCEPT CAME IN VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL CONCEPT.

IT WASN'T LIKE IT'S BEEN YEARS, YOU KNOW, LANGUISHING.

AND IT'S, IT'S MOVED FORWARD QUITE EXPEDITIOUSLY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEIR LAW FIRM IN A CLASS, A OFFICE SPACE THAT'S CO-LOCATED ON, ON A, ON A, ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEIR THEIR, THEIR AMENITY THAT I KNOW OF, FOR EXAMPLE CO-LOCATED IN A, IN A HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS.

THE TRAFFIC ISSUES COMING AND GOING FROM THIS PARCEL, IF YOU'RE COMING FROM OMAHA, YOU'RE GOING TO BE CAUSING A TRAFFIC JAM AT EXIT ZERO WITH EVERYBODY TRYING TO GET OFF AND TURN LEFT. IF YOU'RE COMING FROM ANY OTHER PART OF TOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A BACKUP ON BROADWAY WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO TURN INTO THE RIVER'S EDGE AREA, WHICH WAS NOT SET UP FOR A SITUATION TO HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CARS AND SCHOOL BUSSES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, CRAMMING IN ALL AT ONE TIME OF THE DAY AND LEAVING AT ANOTHER TIME OF THE DAY.

SO I, YOU KNOW, IN CLOSING, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SCHOOL, RIGHT? I THINK COUNCIL BLUFFS ABSOLUTELY DESERVES A BEAUTIFUL STEM SCHOOL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE RIVERFRONT TO HAVE BOTH.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN IS IF WE DON'T TAKE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE OUR GEMS AND USE THEM FOR NONPROFIT PURPOSES. IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE PARCEL ON NEBRASKA AVENUE WERE TWO OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR THE STEM SCHOOL.

I THINK COUNCIL BLUFFS CAN HAVE IT ALL. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU, MISS WASHBURN. THANK YOU.

WE'RE BACK. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS CODY FORSTALL, AND I'M THE CO-OWNER OF POWERTECH, LOCATED HERE IN COUNCIL BLUFFS.

AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT AND CURRENT EMPLOYER BASED HERE IN TOWN.

I'M EXCITED AT THE PROSPECT OF THIS INVESTMENT INTO OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND INTO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE SUPPORT OF MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS, EMPLOYERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL NEW STEM SCHOOL ON THIS SITE.

I KNOW THE PROJECT STILL HAS MANY HURDLES TO CROSS, BUT WE CAN TAKE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TONIGHT BY SHOWING THE CITY'S SUPPORT FOR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION LONG INTO THE FUTURE.

[02:30:01]

WE NEED A PARTNER IN THE CITY THAT IS COMMITTED TO GROWTH AS WE ARE.

WE ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING NEW EMPLOYEES FROM THE C-SUITE TO FIRST YEAR TECHNICIANS DURING RECRUITMENT.

OUR PROSPECTIVE NEW HIRES ARE LOOKING AT MORE THAN JUST EMPLOYMENT OFFERING.

THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR CITY AND WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO RAISE A FAMILY HERE AND NEARLY ALL FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL EXPERIENCE LONG TERM BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND REJECTION OF THE POTENTIAL SALE OF THIS SITE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD SET THIS PROJECT BACK FOR YEARS OR EVEN COMPLETELY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, TIME CAN KILL DEALS. THE PROJECT WON'T SINGLE HANDEDLY END OUR DECLINING STUDENT ENROLLMENT OR MANY OF THE OTHER HEADWINDS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FACING.

I THINK WE CAN AGREE ON THAT. BUT I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN ITS FUTURE.

WE CAN CREATE A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OFFERING IN TERMS OF SCOPE AND QUALITY FOR BOTH CB AND SURROUNDING STUDENTS IN A NEW AND IN A NEW FACILITY IN A TERRIFIC LOCATION.

I KNOW SOME WILL SAY WE ARE MISSING OUT ON THE PROPERTY TAX, BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS VERY NEARBY WITH A MUCH HIGHER POTENTIAL FOR TAX REVENUE. A REJECTION OF THE SALE FOR THIS SITE MAY NOT JUST IMPACT THIS PROJECT.

I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER HOW IT COULD IMPACT BACKING FOR FUTURE POTENTIAL PROJECTS.

IF THE CITY FAILS TO DELIVER ON ITS PROMISE TO SELL THIS SITE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AS A FATHER, AN EMPLOYER, I FEEL IT'S VITAL THAT OUR LOCAL LEADERS SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY, NOT JUST WITH WORDS, BUT WITH MEANINGFUL ACTION.

LET'S GIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OUR SUPPORT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO WITHHOLD THIS SITE FROM THE DISTRICT BEFORE THE PROJECT HAS A CHANCE TO BE FULLY VETTED.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. CODY.

IT'S ON RIGHT? YES IT IS. I TALK LOUD, I BETTER STAND BACK.

ALRIGHT. MY NAME IS BETH WATKINS. ADDRESS IS 4135 AVENUE C.

I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, WEST END, HOMEOWNER FOR A DECADE, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, AND A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.

I AM HERE TONIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY, TO VOTE OR TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED SALE OF RIVERFRONT LAND TO THE DISTRICT.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR. THIS IS NOT ME OPPOSING STEM EDUCATION.

IN FACT, WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF IT, I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND VERY.

FOR IT. AND ONCE I LEARNED MORE AND GATHERED INFORMATION FROM MANY OF MY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, I'VE SINCE CHANGED. I DO, I FULLY SUPPORT STEM OPPORTUNITIES.

I'M ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I AM A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR GETTING ALWAYS GETTING MORE DOLLARS INTO OUR SCHOOLS, BUT I ALSO SEE THE REAL STRAIN ON RESOURCES AS THINGS STAND TODAY.

I DON'T SEE THIS PROPOSAL IMPROVING THAT STRAIN.

I SEE IT POSSIBLY STRETCHING OUR DOLLARS EVEN FURTHER.

IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT OUR SCHOOLS NEED RIGHT NOW. MY CONCERN WITH THE LOCATION AND THE SALE ON THAT MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF LAND LIKE WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT.

THAT PROPOSED SITE IS RIGHT BY MY HOUSE. I LIVE ON THAT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE.

I LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I LOVE THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED THERE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE. IT'S ABOUT THINKING ABOUT LONG TERM COSTS, LAND USE, WHETHER IT IS THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY, I. SAW THAT YOUR DISCUSSION LAST MONTH. THE RIVERFRONT, THE SYMBOL OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD, SEES FIRST.

IN MY OPINION, WHATEVER GOES THERE NEEDS TO GENERATE LONG TERM BENEFIT FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS AND THE DISCUSSION OF IT NOT GENERATING TAX REVENUE IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO CONSIDER A BUSINESS. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES DEVELOPMENTS WOULD.

I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS THE IDEA THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BRING POPULATION GROWTH INTO OUR CITY.

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS WELL KNOWN AS LANDLOCKED.

WE DON'T HAVE A SPACE FOR THESE NEW MAJOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS OR BRING IN NEW YOUNG FAMILIES.

SO IF FAMILIES FROM OMAHA OR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WANT TO USE THE SCHOOL, THEY WILL CONTINUE LIVING WHERE THEY ALREADY LIVE.

POTENTIALLY, THEY'LL DRIVE IN, THEY'LL USE OUR PROGRAM, GO HOME, OR THEY'LL RENT APARTMENTS ACROSS THE RIVER.

SO WHILE THE SCHOOL MAY ATTRACT STUDENTS AND I AM I AM FOR OUR DISTRICT ATTRACTING MORE STUDENTS, I THINK ALL OF US CAN AGREE ON THAT. IT DOESN'T ATTRACT RESIDENTS, POTENTIALLY WITHOUT NEW RESIDENTS, THERE'S NOT A NEW TAX BASE. LAST MONTH, I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN GORMAN MENTIONED THAT THE SCHOOL COULD EVENTUALLY BRING IN MORE TAX REVENUE BY PRODUCING THE BETTER EDUCATED STUDENTS WHO GET BETTER JOBS HERE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT HOPE. A LOT OF THE MAJOR STEM EMPLOYERS, POTENTIALLY THE ONES THAT MOST LIKELY ARE GOING TO EITHER HIGHER OR PARTNER WITH STUDENTS

[02:35:01]

WE WOULD BE USING OUR MOST VALUABLE LAND TO TRAIN A WORKFORCE THAT MOST LIKELY IS GOING TO EITHER CROSS THE RIVER OR LEAVE AND GO TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CITY.

THIS IS WHERE THAT RISK REWARD AND COST BENEFIT COMES IN.

WHY GIVING UP THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A TAX GENERATING DEVELOPMENT? I UNDERSTAND IT'S IT'S NOT CURRENTLY, BUT THERE IS THAT POSSIBILITY.

SOMETHING THAT COULD BRING LONG TERM REVENUE JOBS, ECONOMIC GROWTH.

I APPRECIATE LISTENING TO EVERYONE THAT SPOKE TONIGHT THAT I LEARNED EVEN NEW THINGS AFTER A MASS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, THE DODGE RIVERSIDE AND THINGS THAT ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO IT'S SOMETHING TO STILL CONSIDER. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE IS JUST TO BRING ANOTHER OPPOSING OPINION FOR THAT.

BUT WHY GIVE UP THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING, A TAX GENERATING DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD BRING POTENTIALLY REVENUE, JOBS AND GROWTH IN EXCHANGE FOR A SCHOOL THAT DOESN'T GENERATE TAX DOLLARS, EVEN IF THAT MEANS WAITING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY, IT'S POSSIBLE WE'D HAVE SOMEONE THAT WOULD WANT TO BUILD. THE OPPORTUNITY DISAPPEARS FOREVER IF WE GIVE IT UP NOW.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE LANDLOCKED. IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, AND ATTEND OUR DISTRICT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE LAND AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

IT DOESN'T. THIS PROJECT DOESN'T SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

IT COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE IT WORSE. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IS WORRYING ABOUT.

AND IT WAS ADDRESSED EARLY ON TONIGHT ABOUT THE DONATION BEING OFFERED, ONLY TIED TO SPECIFICALLY THIS PIECE OF RIVERFRONT PROPERTY.

I'M NOT HERE TO SPECULATE ABOUT THE DONOR OR THE INTENTIONS.

I DID LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS OF WHY THEY MIGHT WANT TO DONATE MORE TO THAT LOCATION, SO I APPRECIATED HEARING THAT TONIGHT AS WELL.

BUT WHEN A CONTRIBUTION OF THAT SIZE IS CONNECTED TO AN EXACT LOCATION, IT'S REASONABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ASK WHY.

IF THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND STEM OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH I SUPPORT, THAT CAN HAPPEN AT OUR EXISTING LOCATIONS.

WE'VE FULLY ADDRESSED THAT. WE KNOW THAT THEY EXIST.

WHY IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T THEN CONSIDER IMPROVING OR ADDING OR USING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE? I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, REASONS AS TO WHY THAT CAN'T HAPPEN EITHER, BUT IT IS SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT.

YOU LOOK AT THOMAS JEFFERSON FIVE MINUTES DOWN THE SAME ROAD THAT YOU WOULD PASS BY WITH THE SAME VIEW OF THE OMAHA DOWNTOWN, JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN. COULD THAT BE A PARTICULAR CHANGE OF HOW THE DISTRICT SEES IT? I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A DECISION FOR ME. BUT MY QUESTION DOES COME TO WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE THAT LAND? AND I HEARD A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TONIGHT THAT MADE ME CONSIDER AND THINK AS TO WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT.

AND I RESPECT THEIR THEIR THOUGHT ON THAT. THE, THE DONATION THAT THEY RECEIVED, GRATEFUL FOR THAT IDEA, GRATEFUL FOR THAT GENEROSITY OF THAT DONOR. IT MAY COVER MORE THAN JUST THE INITIAL BEGINNING OF THAT PROJECT, BUT EVEN THE DISTRICT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE LONG TERM COSTS, STAFFING, MAINTENANCE, UTILITIES, TECHNOLOGY. ONGOING PROGRAM EXPENSES WILL BE EVENTUALLY PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS REGARDLESS.

DONATIONS, NO MATTER HOW LARGE, DO NOT LAST FOREVER.

THEY HELP LAUNCH PROJECTS, BUT THEY DO NOT HELP SUSTAIN IT.

THE DISTRICT HAS SAID THEY PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH STEM IDEAS REGARDLESS, WHICH MEANS THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY COME BACK TO US.

THAT'S WHY THE LOCATION TO ME MATTERS. WHEN A DONATION IS TIED TO THAT PIECE OF LAND, MOST VALUABLE LAND, IT FORCES THE CITY TO ABSORB THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES.

AND WHEN SOMEONE SAYS, I'LL GIVE YOU THAT 35 MILLION, BUT ONLY IF YOU GIVE THE MOST VALUABLE LAND.

IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT PHILANTHROPY. AT THAT POINT, IT BECOMES LEVERAGE AND FINANCIAL REALITY MATTERS.

IN IOWA. SCHOOL FUNDING IS BASED ON ENROLLMENT.

WHEN STUDENTS MOVE FROM A L OR TJ INTO THESE SEPARATE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS, THE FUNDING TIED TO THOSE STUDENTS SHIFTS WITH THEM.

THE DISTRICT DOESN'T RECEIVE EXTRA FUNDING FOR OPERATING A SELECTIVE SCHOOL.

IT SIMPLY SPREADS THE SAME DOLLARS ACROSS MORE BUILDINGS.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE MY MY MAIN CONCERN HERE IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT AL AND TJ ARE LOSING ENROLLMENT ALREADY AT RAPID RATES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO SPREAD THAT TO A THIRD BUILDING, A THIRD SCHOOL, TAKING POSSIBLY OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND MOVING THEM TO A VERY SPECIFIC SET OF OF LEARNING. IT ADDS ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL COSTS.

OUR DISTRICT IS STRETCHED THIN, BUDGETS ARE TIGHT, ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING.

WE'RE HEARING EVEN RUMORS OF MAYBE THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO COMBINE AND CONDENSE.

AND THAT IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR MURILLO, WHO HAS BROUGHT INCREDIBLE STEM OPPORTUNITIES INTO OUR DISTRICT, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF GROWTH WITH THAT.

BUT EVEN WITH THOSE PROGRAMS, THE AMAZING PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE, FAMILIES ARE STILL CHOOSING TO LEAVE OUR SCHOOL,

[02:40:03]

THAT TELLS US SOMETHING IMPORTANT. THE SOLUTION ISN'T BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE LAND IN THE CITY.

IT'S INVESTING IN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND MAKING IT STRONGER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FAMILIES.

IN MY OPINION, IF THE DISTRICT TRULY WANTS A STEM FOCUSED MODEL, WE ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON COULD SERVE AS A STEM CAMPUS.

AL STAYS A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS ARE BUSED BETWEEN BUILDINGS.

SOMETHING DISTRICTS DO EVERY DAY. THE APPROACH USES THE BUILDINGS WE ALREADY OWN.

KEEPS OUR CURRENT STAFF. AVOIDS ADDING LONG TERM OPERATIONAL COSTS AND STRETCHES TAXPAYER DOLLARS OR DONATION DOLLARS MUCH FURTHER.

AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FOUR MINUTE DIFFERENCE DOWN BROADWAY POTENTIALLY.

I KNOW IT'S NOT THE IDEAL, BEAUTIFUL LOCATION, AND I COMPLETELY AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU AS TO WHY IT MAKES SENSE.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA TO DO THAT, BUT STILL VISIBLE IF WE WERE TO CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE, RAISING MY FAMILY AND ACTIVE INVOLVED IN MY KIDS SCHOOL, I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK BEYOND THE SURFACE APPEAL, PAST THE EXCITING THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY, OUR OUR SCHOOL, AND OUR TAXPAYERS AND ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE SALE OF THIS LAND.

COUNCIL BLUFFS DOES NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE RIVERFRONT, BUT NOT ANOTHER POTENTIAL FINANCIAL BURDEN ON AN ALREADY STRAINED DISTRICT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS WATKINS. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC TONIGHT? WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU MAYOR SHUDAK AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LISTENING TO THE TOPIC.

I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOICES, AND I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO A COUPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN A STATEMENT IS MADE ABOUT GOING TO ONE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAD AN EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT DONE ON OUR ENROLLMENT AND ANALYSIS LOOKING AT IT.

NEVER WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT ASSESSMENT OR ANALYSIS THAT SPOKE TO GOING TO ONE HIGH SCHOOL, GOING TO ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THERE IS ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA, A DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

IT'S NOT JUST A COUNCIL BLUFFS. YES. WE'RE LANDLOCKED.

YES. WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT OPEN AND ROLL OUT AND A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE OPEN AND ROLLING OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALLER HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TO LOOK AT A SMALL STEM HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF THE SAME TACTIC THAT WE HEARD WHEN WE OPENED THE EARLY COLLEGE, AND IT WAS 50 STUDENTS.

AND IT BECAME REALLY FIRST, THAT IF YOU OPEN A NEW PROGRAM OR AN EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OUT OF AL AND TJ. THAT IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT.

WHAT IS APPEALING TO STUDENTS. IS IT A SCHOOL OR A PROGRAM THAT SOME STUDENTS LOVE A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY LOVE IT. SOME DO NOT. SOME CRAVE FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

MR. NORTON, WHO SPOKE EARLIER. ADI PLAYS POINT GUARD FOR OUR GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.

EXCELLENT STUDENT WANTS TO BE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.

WENT AND GOT HER ASSOCIATE'S ON CAMPUSES RIGHT NOW.

INSTEAD OF TAKING 5 TO 6 YEARS TO COMPLETE THAT PROGRAM, SHE'LL BE OUT IN FOUR.

IT'S THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE PROVIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE THAT ALLOW OUR STUDENTS CHOICE, CHOICE TO ACHIEVE. WE'RE ASKING FOR ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THAT CHOICE.

CHOICE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

WE DO HAVE STEM IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL. WHY WOULD IT NOT? AS YOU HEARD THE STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY BUILT.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE. TO ALLOW THAT TO EXPAND.

TO KNOCK DOWN WALLS OR RECREATE WOULD COST US EVEN MORE, PROBABLY IF WE FLOATED A BOND TO DO THAT MAYBE 30, $40 MILLION TO TRY TO RETROFIT THE BUILDINGS.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A DONOR, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE DONOR.

WE ARE TALKING TO MANY, MANY ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

JUST AS WE DID WITH THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RAISE THE DOLLARS FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THAT WE DON'T ASK OUR TAXPAYERS TO RAISE OR TO FLOAT A BOND THAT WOULD RAISE TAXES.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS LAND, IT IS A LOCATION.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. BUT REMEMBER, IT'S STUDENTS AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK.

IT'S SCHOOLS AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK. AND IT'S OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE MORE THAN THEY EVER DREAMED WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

SO I ASK AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF OPINIONS, BUT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT HAVING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE A STEM INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL IS SOMETHING STUDENTS COULD ONLY DREAM OF AND TO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT WOULD BE 400 STUDENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WOULD BE NO MORE THAN 50 STUDENTS PER GRADE LEVEL FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL.

[02:45:01]

DO WE HAVE A DECLINING ENROLLMENT? YES, ABOUT 140 STUDENTS DOWN.

DO WE HAVE A DECLINING ENROLLMENT ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA? YES. DO WE HAVE IT ACROSS THE NATION? YES. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE STOP THINKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURILLO. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? BOB .20237 MONUMENT ROAD. FIRST, I JUST GOT A COMMENT.

IT'S PRETTY AWESOME TO HEAR THESE EDUCATORS TALK ABOUT THE VALUE AND THEIR PASSION TO BRING THE BEST WE CAN TO OUR KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT WAS A KIND OF HUMBLING FOR ME. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO ADD JUST A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT LOCATION. EVERYBODY I HEAR TALKS ABOUT STEM HIGH SCHOOL IS A GREAT IDEA AND WE NEED IT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND I CONCUR WITH THAT FULLY. THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION IS ATTRACTIVE FROM A FUNDRAISING STANDPOINT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE WE THINK THERE MAY BE 15, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT MILLION DOLLARS OF THE 35 THAT WE CAN COUNT ON.

IT'S NOT SOLID YET, BUT WE'VE HAD VERBAL COMMITMENTS ON ON SOME OF THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO RAISE ROUGHLY ANOTHER 100, ANOTHER $20 MILLION.

AND THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S A TALL TASK. AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO THAT, WE'VE GONE TO A FEW OF THEM ALREADY.

THEIR, THEIR NAMES, YOU KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN THE INITIAL INFORMATION ON IT ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RIVERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A COUPLE OF THEM MENTIONED IS WE LIKE THAT A LOT THAT HAVE OUR BENEVOLENCE ASSOCIATED BOTH WITH THIS SCHOOL AS WELL AS WITH THE RIVERFRONT.

SO THERE'S A TIE IN FROM THAT ASPECT FROM SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE POTENTIAL DONORS FOR THIS.

AND ALSO WE'VE MATERIALS WE'VE SHOWN HAVE, HAVE SHOWN THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF, OF IOWA TO FIND PHILANTHROPY AND WE HAVE TO GO TO THE, OR WE'LL BE GOING TO THE. FOUNDATIONS IN OMAHA AND INDIVIDUALS IN OMAHA THAT HAVE CAPACITY.

INTEREST IN EDUCATION AND YOU DRIVE AROUND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND YOU SEE.

NAMES ON BUILDINGS UNO AND OTHER PLACES, THE LIBRARY AND SUCH WHERE PHILANTHROPISTS HAVE.

HAVE STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT VARIOUS CAUSES. I DON'T THINK THEY DO IT TO GET THEIR NAME ON THE BUILDING, BUT THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SOME OF THEM. ANYWAY.

I KNOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SOME OF THEM. AND THEY WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOMETHING THAT'S LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND IMPRESSIVE AND SO ON. SO YOU CAN, IT'S EASY TO SAY IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

IT DOES MATTER TO SOME PEOPLE. AND THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH FUNDRAISING IS TO SATISFY PEOPLE ACROSS THE ACROSS THE RIVER AS WELL AS ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS.

IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT YOU WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THEM.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE LOCATION IS IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF SELLING THAT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHARLOTTE. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? HI, MY NAME IS PAULA DECKER. I'M AT 11361 WABASH AVENUE AND I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THIS.

WE ARE IN A SUSPENSION WITH THE DNR ON THAT PROPERTY DOWN AT PLAYLAND PARK.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND IT IS ALSO, AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS SAID, A GEM OF A PROPERTY.

GIVING MONEY WITH TIES OR THAT YOU CAN'T DO THIS OR DO THAT ALWAYS GIVES ME A WEIRD FEELING.

I THINK THAT THE STEM SCHOOL, I'VE RAISED NINE KIDS IN, A FOSTER KID IN THIS PUBLIC SCHOOL,

[02:50:07]

BUT YET WE SOLD THE TARGETS. ONE. WE CLOSED CRESCENT.

SO I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO REEVALUATE WHAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL IS DOING.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE KNOWN AS PAYING OUR TEACHERS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF MONEY WE CAN.

AND PEOPLE WOULD FLOOD HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE OUTSTANDING TEACHERS.

NOT THAT WE DON'T. WE DO. BUT WE'RE NOT AT THE BASE THAT WE ARE.

AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE KIDS. LAST YEAR AT TJ, WHEN THE SHOP TEACHER PUT OUT, THE KIDS COULDN'T TAKE SHOP CLASS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE STEEL TOED SHOES. SO I SENT OUT A THING AND WE GOT THEM STILL.

BOTH ARE STILL TOED SHOES. THIS WEEK. LAST WEEK, THE GIRLS TRACK TEAM DIDN'T HAVE TRACK SHOES.

THAT BREAKS MY HEART. NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING 3 TO 4 MILLION TO KEEP THAT SCHOOL OPEN.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO BACK TO BASICS AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE'VE GOT.

START FROM THE BEGINNING AND REEVALUATE. I THINK STEM SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS ARE GREAT, BUT LET'S KIND OF GO BACK TO BASICS. THE KIDS. WE'VE GOT THE 9000 HERE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

LET'S TREAT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND LET'S OH, IN ANOTHER SCHOOL, THEY NEEDED CLOTHES FOR THE THREE AND FOUR GRADE CLASS. FOR SOME OF THOSE KIDS. SO LET'S GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT HERE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT A GOLDEN LITTLE GEM. SO OMAHA CAN LOOK AT IT AND LET'S TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS.

THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANKS, MISS DENKER.

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING? WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER THAT WE FILED EARLIER.

THIS ONE THIS MEETING. THE LETTER READ, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S EFFORT TO PURCHASE THE LAND FROM THE CITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW STEM STEM HIGH SCHOOL. AS A PROUD COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ALUMNUS, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND CURRENT BOARD MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I BELIEVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HIGH QUALITY STEM EDUCATION PREPARES STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND OTHER HIGH DEMAND FIELDS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC STRENGTH OF OUR REGION.

EQUALITY. IMPORTANT. EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE LOCATION OF THE FACILITY.

THE SCHOOL MUST BE LOCATED IN A SETTING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND WELCOMING.

A RIVERFRONT METROPOLITAN LOCATION IS ESSENTIAL TO THE ATTRACTING FOUNDATION SUPPORT, ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, FOSTERING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENSURING CONVENIENT ACCESS FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING, IT'S ABOUT CREATING A WORKFORCE PIPELINE, STRENGTHENING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

A WELL-PLACED STEM HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE A HUB WHERE EDUCATION, INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT STUDENTS SUCCESS IN REGIONAL GROWTH.

I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP SHOWN BY THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EXPLORING THIS OPPORTUNITY IN COURT, AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SALE OF THE LAND AND CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STEM HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SINCERELY. SHANE HAAS. I'LL PASS THAT DOWN TO THE CLERK, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITIZENS.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL. MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THE MOTION DIES. WE ARE ON TO RESOLUTIONS, MADAM CLERK.

ONE SECOND. AS YOU LEAVE, I JUST ASK IF. TAKE THE CONVERSATIONS DOWN.

TO THE SECOND OR TO THE FIRST FLOOR, PLEASE.

[02:55:04]

[7.A) Resolution 26-96 Resolution adopting the amended City Council Rules of Procedure 2026.]

AND WE MAY MAKE MORE, MORE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'LL SAY.

YEP. I GOT A LOT MORE DISCUSSION, THINGS TO ADD, THINGS TO TAKE AWAY.

YEAH. GET OUR SYSTEMS IN PLACE. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES RESOLUTION 2697, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT AND BILL OF SALE.

[7.B) Resolution 26-97 Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute the Easement Agreement and Bill of Sale transferring ownership for East Manawa Phase I water main extension located in Mallard Street from the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa to the Board of Water Works Trustees of Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Location: Mallard Street.  ]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, IS THERE A DISCUSSION.

I WILL SAY THAT THE FIRST SET OF FOUNDATIONS WERE POURED AT THE END OF LAST WEEK.

AND SO THIS IS TRANSFERRING THE THE ACTUAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE WATERWORKS SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE UNITS DOWN IN THE NEW MANOA SUBDIVISION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES RESOLUTION 2698 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF 28 AGREEMENT

[7.C) Resolution 26-98 Resolution authorizing execution of 28E agreement between Iowa State University of Science and Technology and the Council Bluffs Police Department.]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES RESOLUTION 2699.

[7.D) Resolution 26-99 Resolution declaring municipal purposes and values regarding safety and coordination notifications in connection with Federal Immigration Enforcement]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, IS THERE A DISCUSSION? I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD JUST TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT OUR POLICE, THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF POLICING OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH ICE, BUT YET KNOW THAT WE PRACTICE DE-ESCALATION. AND THIS IS EXPLAINS FURTHER.

THE POSITION OF WHERE OUR POLICE WILL FALL UNDER THIS SITUATION WHEN I, IF ICE COMES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND I, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TONY PUT IT, BUT THIS ISN'T A DIRECTIVE.

THIS IS MORE OF A STATEMENT. CORRECT? I THINK YEAH, I THINK THAT'S HOW WE SAID IT.

YEAH. MORE OF A STATEMENT. SO EVERYBODY KNOWS KIND OF WHERE WE STAND.

JUST A GUIDING PRINCIPLE. YEAH. A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING.

CORRECT. AND IT'S FOR THE FUTURE. ALSO CORRECT IS WHAT WE WANT TO STIPULATE.

JUST REAL QUICK, I DO WANT TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ONE, GIVEN THAT I WORK AT AN ICE DETENTION CENTER.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE WISE. YEAH, I WOULD AGREE.

SOLID PLAN. SO WE'LL NEED A ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL, ROLL CALL, MADAM CLERK.

OKAY, LET ME SEE WHICH ONE WE DID THE LAST. WE'LL START WITH STEVE GORMAN.

I DOUG ROWE. SORRY. ROGER. SANDAU. COLE BUTTON.

ABSTAIN. JOE DISALVO, I MOTION PASSES.

[7.E) Resolution 26-100 Resolution reclassifying selected jobs in the Public Works Department to a different pay grade]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, I'LL JUST BRING UP WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WE DID ASK MATT IF HE'D GONE THROUGH SOME OTHER PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T JUST BUMP THE PAY GRADE.

COULD HE DO SOME OTHER THINGS? AND HE DID LOOK AT THOSE THINGS. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE POSITIONS. SO AND IT IS A SMALL IMPACT ON THE BUDGET. SO I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS AND GET THESE FOLKS, GET THESE TWO POSITIONS HIRED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

[03:00:03]

[7.F) Resolution 26-101 Resolution declaring an official intent under Treasury Regulation 1.150-2 to issue debt to reimburse the City for certain original expenditures paid in connection with specified projects. ]

[7.G) Resolution 26-102 Resolution authorizing the issuance of $9,900,000 General obligation Bonds, Series 2026 and levying a tax for the payment thereof. ]

MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. RESOLUTION 26 103. RESOLUTION.

[7.H) Resolution 26-103 Resolution confirming the appointment of Christopher Gibbons to the position of Director of Community Development]

SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I WILL ECHO MY COMMENTS FROM EARLIER TODAY.

CHRIS HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB BEING THE INTERIM HEAD OF COMMUNITY.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. NOT ONLY HAS HE COME FORWARD WITH NEW IDEAS DOWN THERE BUT BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO SOME NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IN AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO WORK AS OTHER JOB AS WELL.

SO WE WILL BE STARTING THAT PROCESS FOR BACKFILL.

AS SOON AS BRENDA COMES BACK FROM VACATION AND I'LL KIND OF REITERATE WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY.

I WORK WITH CHRIS A LOT. WHEN I WAS ON PLANNING, HE ALWAYS DID A GREAT JOB GETTING THINGS TOGETHER AND MAKING A FEW CHANGES AND ALSO THAT MORE OPEN TO MAYBE SOME OF THE THINGS AS PEOPLE COME IN FOR DEVELOPMENTS, LOOK FOR WAYS TO GET IT DONE RATHER THAN PUT UP MORE ROADBLOCKS.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GO. YEAH, WE WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO TOWN. WE WANT PEOPLE TO WE WANT TO BE CREATIVE WITHIN OUR ORDINANCES OR IF WE NEED TO CHANGE ORDINANCES BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SO LONG, WE WE'RE OPEN TO THAT. CHRIS IS OPEN TO THAT.

YEAH. WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE THE NEW STUDY FOR THE NEW PLAN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS HE BROUGHT UP THAT THEY WOULD REASSESS SOME OF THAT BECAUSE SOME THINGS GET OUT OF DATE, LIKE I REFERENCED THE FAX MACHINE EARLIER. THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THINGS THINGS CHANGE. CHRIS DOES A GOOD JOB.

HE'S ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE. SOMETIMES HE GETS A BAD RAP, BUT THAT'S A PRODUCT OF HIS POSITION IN THAT THE LAWS AND THE RULES ARE THE LAWS AND THE RULES. AS MUCH AS I AND OTHERS SOMETIMES DON'T GREATLY ENJOY THAT.

MOSTLY HE DOES. HE DOES WHAT HE DOES BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT'S WRITTEN.

BUT WHAT IS USUALLY NICE IS HE'S ALWAYS AMENABLE TO SAY, HEY, WE CAN'T DO THIS, BUT PERHAPS WE CAN DO X, Y, OR Z. SO HAVING RIGHT, THAT, THAT MINDSET WITH THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE RAJ SAID, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS A CITY AND IT'S LIKE I SAID, HE'S HE'S VERY APPROACHABLE, VERY EASY TO GET A HOLD OF AND CONTACT WITH.

SO I THINK HE TRULY DOES APPRECIATE HIS JOB IN THE CITY THAT HE WORKS FOR.

I THINK HE HAS A GREAT ENJOYMENT IN THAT, AND I THINK HE'LL DO A GOOD JOB.

I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT JOE SAID. HE COVERED EVERYTHING NICELY.

THAT'S RIGHT. THE FLEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH SOME OTHER THINGS, IF THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SO LONG, THERE COULD BE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE JUST HAVE TO ADDRESS.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. CHRIS HAS ONE OF THE GO TO PERSONS THAT I ALWAYS REACH OUT TO WHEN THERE'S THINGS I NEED TO KNOW, AND HE'S ALWAYS TAKES THE TIME, EXPLAINS IT WELL, PUTS IT UP ON THE SCREEN, AND THEN WE HAVE GOOD CONVERSATION FOR A LITTLE BIT OF JUST BRAINSTORMING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CHRIS WORKING AND WORKING WITH HIM, AND HE'S A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, SO THAT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. I OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

[8.A) Retail Tobacco Renewals (5)]

[8.B) Liquor License Renewals1. Dodge Riverside Golf Course, 2 Harrahs Blvd. 2. Grand Venue LLC, 4040 S. Expressway St.3. Longhorn Steakhouse #5397, 3727 Denmark Dr.4. Speedee Mart 1512, 3604 9th Ave.5. The Hut Discount Store, 1925 W. Broadway]

8A1 THROUGH EIGHT A, B AND B ONE THROUGH FIVE.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS.

[8.C) Liquor License Renewal1. The Dock, 401 Veterans Memorial Hwy.]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK. I WILL DO A ROLL CALL.

VOTE. ROGER. SANDAU. COLE. BUTTON. AYE. JOE. DISALVO.

[03:05:05]

[9.A) Discussion and Possible Direction to the City Attorney and/or City Clerk Regarding Research Requests.]

TONY TALKED ABOUT A STUDY SESSION. WHAT I BROUGHT UP LAST TIME ABOUT THE SIGNS AND THE WEST BROADWAY OVERLAY HE ADDRESSED.

WE HAVE SOME CONFLICTING ORDINANCES WITH OUR SIGN CODE VERSUS THE WEST BROADWAY OVERLAY.

SO HE'S GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AND WE'LL GET IT ON THE AGENDA SOON AFTER.

TONY PROVIDES THE RESEARCH TO YOU. THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IF YOU WANT ME TO PUT IT ON THAT NEXT AGENDA OR NOT.

YEP. FANTASTIC. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? JUST AS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH THEM ON JUST GETTING SOME DATA FOR POSSIBLE ANIMAL RELATED PROPOSALS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF THAT. I SENT THAT OUT TO ALL THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS JODY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

BUT THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE'LL BE DISCUSSING.

COLE, CAN YOU LOOP ME IN ON THAT? YEAH, LIKE RIGHT NOW.

OR DO YOU WANT ME TO SEND IT OUT? NO. JUST IF YOU COULD SEND IT TO ME. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. GIVE ME THE WHOLE PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW. I SAID WHY NOT? COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT'S ALL GOOD. I DIDN'T THINK TO.

NO. NO WORRIES AT ALL. ALL GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER RESEARCH OR ANY DIRECTIVES TO LEGAL?

[9.B) Dodge Riverside Golf Course FY27 Proposed Annual Budget]

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. OH OH. WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION.

I DON'T WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS. IT SAYS ACTION ITEM.

SO I WAS CONFUSED AND I THOUGHT WE HAD TO VOTE BEFORE WE HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

BUT IT'S A DIRECTION. BUT IF WE DON'T TAKE ANY ACTION, WHICH WE CAN'T REALLY.

IF I'M CORRECT, THEN YEP. YOU GOT IT, JOE. THEN IT PASSES, RIGHT? IT'S SOMETHING TO BRING UP. IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO DECLINE THE BUDGET, WE WOULD TAKE ACTION.

WE WOULD HAVE TO. YOU CAN TAKE ACTION. YOU'RE NOT VOTING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO REJECT THE BUDGET BEFORE THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE, YOU NEED TO DO THAT NOW.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO, IF YOU WANTED TO INSTRUCT US TO REJECT THE BUDGET AND THEN NOTIFY THEM BEFORE THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE SO THAT IT DOES NOT AUTO APPROVE.

I LIKE TO DO THAT. OKAY. NO. UNDERSTOOD. IS THERE A MOTION TO REJECT THE BUDGET? OKAY. NINE C DODGE RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

[9.C) Dodge Riverside Golf Course Management Agreement]

YES. SO THIS IS DIRECTION THAT IF WE WANT TO APPOINT LEGAL AT THIS POINT IN TIME OR WAIT UNTIL WE GET CLOSER TO RENEGOTIATION AS WELL AS REACH OUT. SO LET ME STOP THERE. DO WE WANT TO APPOINT SOMEBODY AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I THINK THIS CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. IT'S OUT OF DATE.

IT'S NOT UP TO STATE LAW. YEAH. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.

YES. I WAS GOING TO GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SO I'LL FLIP MY STATEMENT.

DO WE WANT TO ADDRESS HAVE LEGAL ADDRESS CHANGING THE DATE TO MATCH UP TO THE STATE DATE.

YES, YES. WELL, I THINK THERE'S MORE THAN JUST AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

YEAH. WE CAN'T CHANGE THE CONTRACT UNTIL 27, UNTIL A YEAR FROM NOW.

BUT YES, THOSE CHANGES NEED TO BE DONE. BUT WHAT TIME LEGAL DOES THAT.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF I WOULD SAY THE DIRECTIVE IS WE WANT THEM TO DO IT.

I THEY CAN LOOK AT THEIR OWN SCHEDULE MAYBE AND SAY, OKAY, WE CAN START AT X DATE TO DO AN RFP OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

AND IF MIMI WANTS TO APPOINT TONY OR WHITNEY OR HERSELF OR JAKE, I THINK THAT'S I DON'T I THINK THEY'RE ALL FULLY CAPABLE.

I'M GOING TO CLARIFY YOUR STATEMENT BECAUSE YOU SAID RFP, WHICH MEANS WE WANT TO END THE THE CONTRACT WITH WHO WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND GO OUT TO RFP, OR DO WE WANT TO RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2027 WHEN THE CONTRACT IS UP? I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE LATTER RENEGOTIATE. AND IF I COULD WEIGH IN, MADAM MAYOR, YES, TYPICALLY WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS IN ENOUGH TIME SO THAT IF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WERE TO FAIL, THEN WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR AN RFP.

DIDN'T YOU GUYS SAY YOU NEEDED ABOUT A YEAR TO DO THAT? WELL, WE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A FULL YEAR. I THINK WE NEED 12 WEEKS FOR THE RFP PROCESS AND USUALLY A FEW MONTHS.

DEFINITELY A FEW MONTHS FOR NEGOTIATIONS TO GO BACK AND FORTH AND THEN COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

SO. SO WOULD IT BE SAFE TO SAY SOMETHING WE SHOULD PROBABLY START WORKING ON LIKE IN JUNE?

[03:10:02]

AND THEN AS STEVE SAID TO AND THEN LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CONTRACT, SEE IF THEY'RE OPEN TO IT. IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN WE AND THE COUNCIL DECIDES WE NEED TO GO OUT TO RFP.

THEN WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DECIDE THAT. I THINK THAT'S THE THAT'S A GOOD.

I AGREE THAT NEED TO LOOK INTO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

SO YES. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE DIRECTIVE.

IF THAT GOES WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE OTHER.

IF IT DOESN'T, THEN WE CAN GO FOR RFP. SOUNDS GOOD.

PERFECT. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

[10) OTHER BUSINESS]

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.